How to Get Rid of Iris Plants

Remove irises by digging.

Irises, with their tall stems and elegant blossoms, add colorful charm to sunny growing areas. Whether you wish to rearrange your flowers and move your irises or you need to get rid of iris plants, you can easily dig up iris rhizomes when necessary. Iris rhizomes are large and sit just beneath the soil surface, which makes them easy to find them as you dig.

Things You'll Need

• Garden spade
• Bucket

Instructions

1. Locate the iris rhizomes by the stems that protrude above the ground.

2. Insert the garden spade about 2 to 3 inches away from the rhizome and push it down into the soil as far as you can.

3. Pry the rhizome out of the soil with the garden spade. The rhizome should come out of the soil easily with little effort.

4. Shake off any excess soil and place the rhizome into the bucket.

5. Remove every rhizome using the same technique.

6. Discard the rhizomes if they show signs of disease or insect infestation. Give the rhizomes away if they appear healthy.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan to give the rhizomes away, wait until autumn to dig them. This gives the recipient the opportunity to replant them before winter.

References

• Utah State University: Growing Iris