trimming foliage

I've never grown Dutch Iris before, this is my first year. I've really enjoyed them and hope they come back next year.

In the meantime, the bloom time is over and the foliage is looking a little ratty - it's starting to get on my nerves ... can I trim it? I don't need to cut it all the way back, but if I could cut it back like, halfway ... would there be any harm?

Does the foliage on these persist thru the summer? Or does it go dormant in the heat? I ask, because they sprouted last fall and have been growing ever since. I didn't expect that ....

Any thoughts appreciated.

Cheri'

In my zone they stay fairly green and decent looking all season. Frost gets them a bit at which time I trim them back pretty hard.....sorry for not being any help :-)

hmmmm, your zone isn't much colder than mine ... We had a really warm winter, so maybe this isn't normal.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see how long the foliage persists, it's already been up for months and months. It's flopped over, dragging on the ground, and generally looking messy. If it sticks around all summer, a good haircut might do it good.

Cheri'

I know of no bulbs that cope well with having their foliage trimmed, they are unable to store enough food for the following season if you cut them back after flowering, you might just get away with it later in the season.

If they are looking a mess now, lift them and move them into a pot or corner where they aren't on view all the time, that way they can die back naturally and be out of your eyeline. You might like to replant them in a pot into the border soil in autumn so next spring you can just lift them out in their pot(s) and have them out of the way, that way you get more spring planting space too with little damage to the roots of the Iris. We do this with some of our spring bulbs.

If for some reason you don't want to do that, you can just plant close to them with plants that have a sprawly foliage that will eventually cover up the Iris leaves as they grow.

Baa, that is a great idea!

I already plant some things, like glads, in pots to be moved in and out of 'center stage' on the patio. I could do the same with the Dutch Iris, only sinking the pots in the garden in the fall/winter and move them out in the summer and replace with a pot of something else. I like this!

Thanx! that actually solves a couple of my problems ... =-)

Cheri'

The plants do go dormant in hot weather. I wait until the folige turns yellow and then I cut it to the ground. I'm guessing that by Memorial Day you can start cutting them back.

cool! thanx Kelli! If that's the case, I'll just grin and bear it until Memorial day. Then I can dig them up and put them in pots.

I'm thinking I could switch out pots of Dutch iris with pots of shell flower - same height, same sun requirements, different bloom time ...

This is why I love this place!

Cheri'

Cherí - here's a good iris care site:

http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/horticulture/g833.htm