How to prepare irises for winter: pruning, fertilizing, replanting, and winter shelter

Regular autumn care of irises will ensure their blooming in the spring and summer. Botanists consider them among the least demanding of the floral world, requiring minimal care. This includes preparing irises for winter in the fall, including pruning, fertilizing, winter shelter, and repotting. The latter procedure is necessary in regions with harsh winter climates. The remaining procedures are mandatory.

Pruning will get rid of dried parts.

In winter, irises expend all their energy on maintaining their vital functions. The fewer dead leaves they have, the easier it is for this representative of the plant kingdom to survive the cold. As soon as flowering has finished, they are pruned. In temperate climates, this typically occurs in early October, and in southern regions, in early November. Regardless of the region, pruning should be done 1.5 weeks before the first frost. Green leaves should not be touched. They are actively photosynthesising, which is essential for the plant's survival.

Rules for pruning

Use sharp scissors. Precision is the key to success. Even minor damage will lead to rot and the spread of diseases. The second rule is to avoid manually picking off dried leaves and flowers. Other recommendations are as follows:

• flower stalks are removed to the base;
• permissible stem length – 3 cm;
• stems longer than 3 cm are removed;
• in the first ten days of October, cut off withered leaves at a level of 15 cm;
• the plant is given the shape of a cone.

After pruning, do not water or fertilize irises. Organic nutrients such as chicken manure and chicken litter are prohibited.

Care after pruning

Botanists recommend using complex fertilizers 14 days before pruning and two weeks after. These fertilizers contain superphosphate and potassium salts. When choosing nutrients, consider the climate of the region:

1. During a mild winter, potassium and phosphorus are essential. They boost the iris's immunity. Once flowering begins, buds form more quickly. For every square meter of garden space, apply 30 grams of potassium salt and 60 grams of superphosphate. Before fertilizing, water the flowers and loosen the soil.
2. During a harsh winter, use any nutrient solution. Purchase it at a gardening supply store. Add 100 g of the nutrient mixture to 1 bucket of water. Use the solution for watering. Apply ¼ of a bucket per flower.

Botanists advise slightly under-fertilizing rather than exceeding the recommended dosage.

Autumn replanting and planting

This is done 7-8 weeks before the onset of frost. The starting point is the condition of the iris leaves. Once they dry out, they can be replanted. Gardeners follow the following procedure:

• dig up the rhizome;
• clear it of soil;
• separate the baby;
• the planting material is placed in a dry plastic container;
• it is placed indoors for 30 days to dry;
• as soon as 1 month has passed, iris is transplanted into the ground;
• for planting, choose a garden area that receives a lot of sunlight;
• There should be no stagnant water on the site.

Once the work is complete, the greenery is prepared for winter. Regardless of whether the gardener planted bulbous or rootstock irises, they must be covered for the winter. Otherwise, the greenery will die by spring.

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Shelter for the winter

In regions with harsh winters, frost-resistant varieties are planted and covered for the winter. The following iris varieties have proven themselves to be successful:

• "Vinogradova";
• "Danford";
• "Reticulate";
• "British";
• "Siberian".

There are no such restrictions for southern regions. The following recommendations will help minimize mistakes during sheltering:

• frost-resistant varieties are covered on days when the temperature drops below -10 C;
• If flowers were transplanted 2 weeks before the onset of cold weather, they are covered;
• the root system of hybrids and winter-hardy irises must be covered;
• the ground within a radius of 20 cm from the base of the iris is covered with a 25-centimeter layer of mulch (dry soil, lowland peat or humus);
• the above-ground part is covered with dry spruce branches.

Regional features of sheltering

Gardeners have many questions when it comes to the need for covering. It's a mistake to assume that the decision should be based solely on the region's climate and the variety's demands. Residents of southern regions always have fewer concerns. Plenty of snow, a mild winter, and moderate humidity are factors that will preserve irises until spring. Snow cover acts as a shock absorber, preventing it from melting until spring. Gardeners simply need to cover the root system using one of the methods listed above.

Residents of regions with a capricious climate are forced to spend more time and effort preparing their green spaces. This applies to Siberia and the Urals. The Moscow region and central Russia are also affected, with some caveats. Severe frosts are rare, but gardeners should be prepared for them. The main problem in this region is the risk of significant differences between day and night temperatures. Don't assume that a greenhouse will protect irises. The flowers need to be covered.

A dense material is suitable. Its structure should not allow cold air to pass through. A layer of mulch is placed under the cover. Botanists recommend that residents of Siberia and the Urals avoid planting hybridized varieties. The likelihood of seeing them in the spring blooming iris tends to "zero"Preference is given to green spaces that were bred specifically for planting in northern regions.

Procedure in case of emergency

Novice and professional gardeners alike struggle to protect flowers from the cold. As soon as they notice frostbite on their plants, they immediately intervene:

• carefully remove dead leaves;
• remove the resulting "mush";
• cleaning is carried out until solid plant tissue appears;
• the cut is treated with a 3% solution of potassium permanganate - the richer the color, the better;
• The "wounds" are sprinkled with ash - it can be replaced with crushed coal.

Iris is a perennial plant that thrives in virtually all climate zones. Planting is done taking into account the night and daytime temperature range, humidity, and soil nutrient levels. Botanists recommend frost-hardy varieties. In southern regions, such restrictions do not apply. Repotting, planting, and pruning should be done at least three weeks before the onset of cold weather. Afterward, water, feed, and cover the iris.