Dig, divide and replant?

We did not have a lot of blooms this year. I think it may have something to do with our spring backfill. Our basement was leaking, so we backfilled. My Iris show no sign of borer, can they be replanted in the same area? Plan to add to the soil, anything special, or just compost?

Å lot of things can cause non-bloom in irises. If your backfill buried the rhizomes more than an inch below the soil surface, that may be the problem right there. Of course overcrowding, lack of sufficient soil nutrients, lack of adequate sunlight, etc., can also result in non-bloom.

If the area in which you want to replant the irises provides excellent drainage and full sun, it should be fine for your irises. Soil amendments should be determined through a soil analysis. That's really the only way to know what, if anything, your particular soil needs for optimal growth and performance of the plants you want to grow in it. Your county extension service should be able to perform a soil analysis inexpensively.

Laurie