How to Divide and Transplant Bearded Irises

The bearded iris has rhizomes, in order for the iris to prosper in your garden you must check for rhizomes for overcrowding. Divide and transplant iris every 3-4 years. The best time to transplant is the end of July - September. Here are some tips on how to divide and transplant your bearded irises.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garden gloves
• Scissor
• Spade
• Digging fork
• Compost with fertilizer
• Sharp knife
• Garden hose with nozzle

1. 
   Transplanted Iris

   Prepare a garden for the transplanted irises. Iris prefers sun but will tolerate partial sun, (no more than 2 hours of shade per day). The Iris needs well-drained soil.

2. Remove the grass, weeds and rocks. Next loosen the soil by digging with a shovel and turning the soil, add four inches of compost to the soil.

3. 
   Iris clump ready for planting!

   Use a scissor to cut back the bearded iris leaves to 1/3 of their height. Lift the entire clump with a spade or fork. Examine the iris clump. Look for rot or bores keep only the healthy rhizomes. Gently pull apart the rhizome divisions, however you can use a sharp knife to separate also. Your transplants need a firm rhizome, roots and leaves

4. 
   lightly cover stems with soil!

   Plant the rhizome in soil no deeper than one inch. Place the rhizome on the soil, spread out the roots, and then cover the roots with soil

5. 

   If the Iris is too deep, it will not bloom and the rhizome will rot.

6. 

   Mist transplants lightly ever day in the morning before 8 am until the transplant is established.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant 18-24 inches apart
• Irises prefer beds that are weed free
• Irises go into a dormancy in midsummer and require less water
• Irises are drought tolerant
• Don't over water
• Snipping off the spent bloom eliminates the seed pod
• Bearded Irises get bores easily, a serious pest concern

Resources

• Yard and Garden Secrets
• How to Increase Iris Blooms
• Tall Bearded Dutch Irises

[momose]

on 9/12/2009 A friend has tons of bearded irises waiting for me to dig. Your instructions will come in handy. Thanks, Susan!

[lawrenctopper]

on 8/26/2009 Hey Susan beleive it or not I do a lot of flowering,thanks for the info.

[DenaEBolton]

on 8/5/2009 I can grow everything except bearded iris. I coddle them too much. I have been practicing being neglectful and abusive. Had some actually bloom this year. LOL 5*

[pattycakes934]

on 8/3/2009 Thank you I love flowers great article

[Susang6]

on 7/26/2009 In answer to the question by cinci1..."Is there any way to make them bloom"

Well yes there is and I have the perfect article for you to read. How to Increase Iris Blooms. I hope this will help you.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5049484_increase-iris-blooms.html