IRIS

SO WHEN CAN I DIG EM UP AND MOVE EM AROUND?

If they have finished blooming, you could do them any time. Just make sure they are back in the ground and settled before cool weather moves in and they should be ready to bloom again next year.

THANKS FOIR ANSWERING MY PLEA FOR HELP. I REMEMBER MY MOTHER CUTTING THE LEAVES OF HER IRIS BACK TO 4 OR 5 INCHS TALL WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT? DOES THE TUBER GAIN ANYTHING FROM THE LEAVES AFTER THE BLOOM? CAN I ACTUALLY EXPECT THEM TO BLOOM NEXT SPRING AFTER THE MOVE THIS YEAR?

Yes, you can actually expect them to bloom next year if you get them moved early enough for them to get settled in good this year. Definitely wait until they are done blooming first.

The idea of cutting the leaves back into a 4 or 5 inch fan formation is that it allows the rhizome to put more energy into putting down new roots in it's new home, rather than using the energy to support the excess foliage.

When transplanting your iris rhizomes, be careful not to plant them too deep, or they won't bloom. In the warmer areas of the country, they recommend letting the top of the rhizome be almost level with the soil line, or a little above the soil line. I'm in a colder zone than you are, so I plant mine almost an inch below the surface to protect them a little bit from the dry winter winds, and they bloom just fine.

Badseed is closer to your zone, maybe she has some input as to planting depth in your zone range.

I'm really glad for this information, too, as I have some I'd like to move and was wondering about the timing and what to do about cutting back the leaves.

So, thanks from me, too.

Diane

all great info. I remember when i was a kid (nearly 50 years ago) my mother culling out her iris beds and throwing the unwanted ones over the bank out on our farm in northern Indiana, they would bloom down there in the weeds, they wernt even planted at all, I always just figured that they were being submisive to her green thumb. ha. OK so now that my iris are taken care of, what about these old peonies that arent blooming much any more. move em , thin em, or what?????

I'd be surprised you need to thin the peonies. Are they crowded by neighbors? Peonies are
typically divided in fall if you come to the conclusion that's what you need to do.

Tam

The only peonies I have that don't bloom well are planted in the shade. Or rather, the shade has grown up around them, because I haven't done anything with the peonies that were here 30 years ago and they bloom just fine. Are yours in shade?

yes they were in lots of shade untill this spring, a tornado took out 3 of our trees, ( no damage to the house, thanks father ) a huge old oak , and a maple kept most of the sun off them. they are on the north side of the house, and still shaded from ther morning sun on the east but from noon on they are now in the sun. Is that enough sun?