How to Prune a Bearded Iris
Bearded irises are beautiful trumpeted flowers that come in an array of colors such as white, pink and purple. They will add beauty and grace to your garden from the late spring until early fall. Pruning a bearded iris is necessary in the beginning of the fall in order for the plant to bloom again in the early summer. Properly pruning the bearded iris will ensure it comes back every year. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Remove any dead iris blooms with pruning shears once the bearded iris has stopped blooming for the season.
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Cut bloom stems to the ground, trim dead foliage and prune back healthy leaves to 4 to 5 inches in the fall, according to the National Gardening Association. This will prevent pests that are attracted to the bearded iris such as aphids and borers.
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Apply an evergreen bough mulch after the ground has frozen to protect stems and prevent roots from heaving out of the soil. If they do, place more soil over the roots. Do not use any wood-type mulches because this can cause the stems to rot, according to Flower Gardening Made Easy. Remove the bough mulch in the beginning of the spring.
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References
- Photo Credit iris after the rain image by leafy from Fotolia.com
