Irises are Done.. what now?

What is the best way to care for my irises now that they have finished blooming? the stalks are still green. Should i cut them down or leave them till they turn brown? My biggest fear is iris borer setting into them.. At my other home, iris borer killed many an iris there, so many, that i gave up growing them.

Any advice would be appreciated. thank you...


terri.

From what I am reading, Terri, you want to start to divide and move irises a month or two after they bloom, but before they start putting out new roots for next years growth.... I have started digging up the worst of mine, and I an finding borers a-boreing and carefully separating out the good parts of the clumps from the bad, which goes into a sealed trash bag to be burnt.
Sharon

I don't replant in the same soil. I move iris around when replanting after dividing.

Also, dig around and look for pupae when digging up any iris.
inanda

These Irises were divided late last summer, so they are ok for another season or 2.. I was wondering about the flower stalk.. do i cut it down now, or wait till it turns brown?

Hi Terri,
I don't know how to do the link thing but I had just asked a similar question in my "cutting back rebloomers" thread. You can read it but, I am told that yes, you should cut back all stalks as soon as they are all done blooming. (even rebloomers)
Good luck !

Deb

I cut off all spent blooms unless I've hybridized the bloom. Later on when I have time, I go around and carefully snap off the bloom stalks. They snap off easily. If it is a clump I'm dividing, then I just snap off he spent stalks at that time.
inanda - who does not have rows and rows like Laurie. Maybe she will hop in here.

Deb, here's the link to your thread...http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/616764/

I break off all my spent flowers and if they won't break, I cut them...break off or cut as close to the rhizome as you can. Don't cut the leaves unless you're digging and dividing.

thanks weegy12

You are very welcome!

Thanks Weegy

What do pupae look like?

you should cut them down, dig them up and send them on their way to your iris poor DG friend in Texas .ASAP

Hey Jackie!! you will be getting some next yr.... im sure, with the way they have been growing this yr, that i will have to split them up next summer. I only just moved and split them all up last summer.. The only thing is, i dont know names.. these irises were here when i bought the house last yr. :)

Beauty doesn't necessarily have to be named....an iris by any other name is still an iris.......;>0

Just keep vigilant about the borer-horrer! I have to dig, inspect, bleach and replant all of my irises this year, as I have been totally neglectful of the important points of iris growing. I am just throwing out the badly infested ones, and trying to keep a few fans of every variety. Looks like I will still have plenty to replant.

I agree with you totally, Jackieshar... :)