How to Trim an African Iris
The African iris plant is native to South Africa as its name suggests but has been spread around the world as an evergreen perennial that thrives in most climates and can survive winter freezes and drought conditions. The plant can grow up to 2 feet tall and wide, with stiff leaves that resemble swords. Pruning and trimming are not essential to the life of the plant but will help to ensure extra blooming and size constrictions if done properly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cut away any damaged or dead branches or stems from the iris in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. Pruning at this time prevents damage and encourages new growth as the spring progresses.
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Trim strategically for size or shape at the same time you prune away dead or damaged foliage. This step is not always necessary, but if you need to control the size or shape of your iris, this is the best time to do it.
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Remove brown or dead leaves progressively throughout the growing season as you notice them. These dead pieces will only waste the plant's nutrients; removing them allows the plant to focus all energy on maintaining the healthy parts and growing new shoots.
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Deadhead the iris throughout the season. This involves removing declining or spent flowers. Cut about 1 inch below the base of the flower head to remove it. Do not cut deeper into the stem or you could prevent future healthy growth.
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Tips & Warnings
Make all pruning cuts in straight lines with sharp shears and as cleanly as you can. If you can avoid tearing the stems or making the cuts too deep into healthy tissue, the plant will heal quickly and continue to grow.
If your African iris is suffering from any sort of disease or fungus while you are cutting, sterilize your pruning shears after every single cut in a 10 percent bleach/water solution. This will prevent the problem from spreading.
Proper deadheading may lead to multiple blooms in a single season.
