Do I need to divide Dutch Irises?

Question

I planted some Dutch irises (Iris hollandica) a few years ago and they're coming up in clumps. Should I divide them up or leave them alone? And if I need to divide them, when's the best time?

Answer 1

They will make their own baby bulbs every year, so if you divide them and keep them from getting too dense, you'll have better flowers and can appreciate them all that much more. If nothing else, pot up the extras and give them to neighbors and have the color carry all the way down the street.

Answer 2

Divide bearded iris when they become crowded and flowering is reduced. The best time to plant and transplant rhizomatous iris is late July through September. Iris loves the heat and drier weather of summer and the summer dividing will reduce the incidence of bacterial soft rot. Most rhizomatous iris should be divided every three to five years. If your iris patch is producing very few flowers, it's time to divide and conquer.

When transplanting iris, first cut back the leaves to about one third of their height. Lift the entire clump with a spade or digging fork. Use a sharp knife to separate the rhizomes. Dip the knife in ten percent bleach after each cut. The new transplants should have a firm rhizome with roots and a fan of leaves. Remove and discard the old rhizomes and only replant the younger smaller rhizomes that grow off of the older stems.

Iris appreciates a sunny well-drained garden spot. When planting iris, dig a hole about five inches deep. Build a small mound in the middle of the hole. Place the rhizome firmly on top of the mound and let the roots fall down the mound. Cover the roots with soil so the rhizome is just slightly exposed. Do not plant the rhizome too deep or it may rot. Generally iris are planted 18-24 inches apart in groups of three to seven sections of one variety. Usually the rhizomes are planted so the leaf fans face in one direction.

Answer 3

Dutch Iris are fickle, as such fairly some captivating issues are. Moisture is a concern. intensity is a concern. Temperatures are a concern. solar is a concern. additionally they require a 6 to eight week cooling era until now they are going to bloom.

Answer 4

If the clumps do not look bad then I would leave them.. I generally divide my tubers in the fall and replant them where I want them for spring blooms.