Dividing Iris is easy and is a great fashion to go loads more to share. Dividing and transplanting Iris keeps your plants healthy and beautiful! Here is an incredibly easy mode to divide and transplant Iris in the garden footstep by step with video.

In this post, I share how to divide Iris rhizomes and how to transplant in the garden with an easy step-by-step photo sit-in. There is a video at the end of this post where I take y'all through information technology likewise.

In this post you lot will acquire…

  • When to split up Iris and transplant
  • Why dividing and transplanting Iris is needed
  • How to dig overcrowded Iris
  • How to split up Iris rhizomes
  • Best tools for splitting Iris
  • Replanting Iris

Iris is such a fun constitute and and then rewarding.  Have yous planted some in your garden and now they have failed to produce every bit many blooms as in past years?  Iris usually needs to be divided once every 3 years or so.  That is not a hard and fast rule but a generalized observation for near.

You can kickoff in August and proceed through September. Since I accept and then many Iris rhizomes that need dividing and transplanting, spacing out the actual work makes it less of an arduous job.

Iris with wording, How to Divide Iris step by step

I live in the Sierra Nevada mountains of N. California at the 4500 pes level.
We go enough of winter snow and cold, then some mighty fine summer weather averaging in the lxxx's to low ninety'south.

We are considered a Zone seven (nosotros have now been upgraded to Zone 8).
I take gardened with Iris for 35 years now.
Here and in the San Joaquin valley, zone 9 to ten. I am telling y'all this to show the various areas that Iris grows and thrives in.

When to split up and transplant Iris bulbs (aka rhizomes)

The best time to split Iris is vi to 8 weeks after bloom, it gives them fourth dimension to store upwardly some free energy.

Merely I too have had success excavation up and replanting right as they are done blooming. I do improve in remembering what color is where, I ever say I am going to mark them while blooming and somehow never go around to it.

I accept started to video during the blooming season so I can refer to the video to see what color is where.  It works wonderfully!

iris stems after bloom

This clump of Iris is done for the season. Some varieties will bloom once again if you deadhead, they are chosen reblooming Iris and it will be noted with the rhizome when you order or purchase them. They really do rebloom and information technology is usually in September in my neck of the forest.

If you desire to know what deadheading is then run into this mail service, Expressionless heading for more than blooms

Some people tidy the plant just after blooming by shearing off the leaves, but I don't. And hither's why….

The rhizomes are fed by the leaves and it is better to let the leaves remain to soak up the summertime sunshine and allow the seedling or rhizome build up a food store for next year'southward blooms. When the leaves are yellow or look otherwise damaged you can shear those off merely go out the healthy-looking leaves to provide the food for the rhizome to shop until late Summer to early Autumn.

You volition have bigger and healthier flowers next year.

basket of straw prepared for Iris bulbs to cure in

Cure & Store Iris Rhizomes

Not going to institute your Iris in your garden?

If I am going to store or cure the rhizomes to give abroad I prepare a container with a bit of straw to lay them in. The straw allows air to broadcast effectually the rhizomes which discourages rot. I as well but lay them out on the footing or on our deck to dry.  We live in a low humidity expanse so this is sufficient.

Some dust the rhizomes with sulfur or a powdered anti-fungal. I have not had to do that just you may need to consider it if fungus is an issue in your expanse.

garden fork poised to dig up overgrown Iris clump

Dig up Iris Rhizomes

Start a practiced 5 to 6 inches back from the base of the Iris dodder and dig in your shovel or garden fork.  Loosen around the clump as all-time you can.  It is easier on your back.

clump of Iris to divide and plant

Iris are not planted deep, they should exist very virtually the surface but their roots can be long. In the video attached, you lot will see I really have to put some musculus into digging around the dodder I am dividing.

digging an Iris up to transplant

Over again, work effectually the unabridged clump to loosen it from the dirt. Once you have it well loosened information technology should pull up very easily.

Iris rhizomes after digging up

You tin merely shake off the dirt or hose off the excess dirt to inspect the rhizomes for rot or insect damage.

The roots can by quite long and you trim them back for easier replanting. I catch the roots at the base of the rhizome and cut what hangs below my fist. Then I trim back the leaves to about four to 6 inches long.

Sometimes rhizomes will divide themselves from the clumps voluntarily only normally, I demand to cut them apart.

how I separate my iris, how to divide iris rhizomes
splitting Iris bulbs before transplanting

Splitting Iris Rhizomes

To split up and/or cutting out diseased and old gnarly bits, apply a clean sharp garden pocketknife and cut it off at the articulation.

iris joint with text overlay

It is piece of cake to see where the joint is on this one, the rhizome narrows. (encounter case higher up)

divided iris blub

It is highly recommended to thoroughly sanitize your cutting tools between cuts so you practice not spread disease. Wiping them well with rubbing alcohol works fine for me. Just make sure it is dry before cutting more.

I have never had an issue with affliction so you don't encounter me cleaning between cuts.

trimmed and divided Iris rhizomes in basket

I started to use the basket with straw but had fashion besides many rhizomes so I laid most of them out on the shady porch to dry out.

Transplant Iris Rhizomes

If you lot are non giving the extra Iris rhizomes abroad you can replant immediately, click here to come across how I replant.

I will print a photo of the Iris in bloom and place it with the rhizomes I am giving away and so whomever I gift it to volition know what color it is.

If I am replanting in my garden I keep a paw-drawn garden map of where I have put things. This by summertime I kept a video garden journal and that has been excellent and helping me see what is where at any particular time of the growing season.

mass of Iris in the garden

I wish you great success with your Iris, they are one of my favorites and they are and so easy!

link to video, divide and transplant iris, plant iris in a pot
Iris Garden Visit 2018

Happy Gardening!

More than You Volition Enjoy!

Visit to an Iris Subcontract
How to Divide Iris in Spring
Growing Iris for Loads of Blooms

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