How do I transplant irises?

Question

I have two huge (2'+ tall and wide, with 4' flower stalks) yellow iris plants along my walkway, but I want to clear that space for some smaller plants so the area isn't so crowded. These irises are my mother-in-law's favorite flower and I would like to give her these plants, but I'm not sure how to transplant them. Anyone have any advice? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Your irises will be much more likely to flourish in a new location if you wait to transplant the rhizomes until the blooming season is finished and the green leaves have faded.

Springtime is definitely not the best time to transplant them, but if you absolutely must do it now, first dig the holes where they are going to be placed. Then dig out a chunk of dirt around each plant that is at least 8-12" across from the base of the plant and at least 8-12" deep. You want to minimize exposure of the roots and the rhizome to the air, so you're basically taking the plant and its entire dirt environment to the new location. Wrap the dirt chunk in burlap to keep the dirt together. Set the dirt chunk into the previously dug hole and push the burlap edges down into the soil. The burlap will break down over time, so don't worry about removing it. Gently straighten the plant and place any needed dirt gently around the plant. Water it, but do not fertilize it.

Good luck.

Answer 2

First off, irises are not a bulb, they are a rhizome. You don't need to plant them as deep as you would, say, a tulip or daffodil. These rhizomes do quite well 2-3 inches below the ground. I've even had several do very well 1 inch under the dirt. Let the foliage die back, but be sure to mark where the plants had come up, and dig them up in August. You don't have to dig them up every year, but it's a good idea to move them around every 1-2 years. With thousands of varieties, you just can't go wrong. And truly, you have to be pretty talented to kill an iris. Good luck!

Answer 3

Irises are very easy to transplant. Just dig them up and the bulbs sometimes have,like an extra bulb attached. Cut or break off the extra bulb and plant the flower. You can also plant the extra part of the bulb. The irises will actually be happy that you did this. They also love mulch.

Answer 4

I like all of these answers so far. The only thing I have to say is that I must commend you on saving your iris plants and giving them to your mother-in-law. So many beautiful perennials are dug and and thrown away every year. Irises are among the most beautiful and fragrant of perennials and also have a deep spiritual value for many flower growers. I know your mother-in-law will greatly appreciate your efforts.

The iris is one of the flowers associated with St. Mary.

Answer 5

I agree with both answers, especially pretty hard to kill an iris. I moved about 50 of them from full sun to part shade and only buried them about 3 inches. They already sprouted greens when I moved them and they actually bloomed flowers about 3-4 weeks later. I also gave a bunch (20+) to my sister. They sat in a plastic bag for about 2 weeks before she could get to them. They flourished and produced flowers the following spring. So thin them out, pass some on, and enjoy a lifetime of gorgeous blooms!

Answer 6

I have a different answer. Just take a look at how they are growing now. My iris sit on the surface of the garden. The only thing below the ground are the roots. If you just move them, and keep them the same way, they'll be fine.

Answer 7

Naturally the spring is the wrong time of the year..........You should always wait until***** 5***** weeks after blooming to dig up and transplant. Doing it now might cause them to not bloom for a couple of years.