How to Grow a Bearded Iris
Bearded iris grows almost anywhere. They are usually evergreen and come in lots of beautiful colors. Sometimes bearded iris blooms twice in one year with the second flowering is far more fragrant than the first. If you are thinking about planting some bearded iris use these practical tips. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Plant the bearded iris where they can get at least 6 hours of sun a day, or full sun if planted by the ocean.
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Feed the bearded iris plenty of fertilizer, but avoid too much nitrogen as this will hinder the plant's bloom. Add fertilizer in early spring and again 6 weeks after the flowers emerge.
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Make sure the soil for the bearded iris is rich and moist. Add a soil compost for best results. Avoid clay soils unless it is amended with a well-aged fertilizer.
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Divide the plants in half every 4 years after flowering. This prevents the plants from bunching up. Wait until the fall if the weather is really hot. A good distance is 24 inches between each clump.
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Sprinkle alfafa pellets in the ground around the bearded iris and water well. Continue watering regularly right after planting until the first flowers bloom.
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Cover rhizomes with soil in cold weather to avoid freezing.
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Tips & Warnings
Follow the planting directions carefully and there's a good chance that the bearded iris will bloom the first year.
When dividing a bearded iris, make sure that each division has a good sized amount of rhizome, plenty of leaves and a good root system.
Do not use wood chips or leaves as mulch. Use evergreen boughs instead.
