Irises are beautiful flowers with unusually shaped buds and leaves. Today, gardeners often use these flowers to create flowerbeds and borders, combining varieties with different petal colors.
To keep flower beds looking neat and flowers growing better, irises need to be replanted in the fall. Irises grown in the same spot for more than five years become less attractive.
Time and reasons for transplantation
Irises grow quickly, so they need to be repotted periodically. This procedure doesn't need to be done annually; every 3-4 years is sufficient. Repotting will remove old roots, which will encourage the vigorous development of new root shoots. This will ensure the iris blooms vigorously.
You may be interested in:To answer the question of when to plant irises in spring, fall, or summer, you need to understand the characteristics of the plant's growing season. It is divided into several stages:
- With the arrival of spring, irises begin active growth of the aboveground portion, which lasts for 1–1.5 months. During this time, the plant transforms into a lush bush with buds.
- The flowering period is May - June.
- In early July, the root system begins a period of active growth that lasts until the end of August. During this period, new roots are fully formed, which will produce new shoots next year.
Therefore, repotting in spring is not recommended. If you do this, the plant will spend all its energy adapting and rooting, meaning its aboveground part will not be able to develop sufficiently. The usual vegetation will be disrupted, and the plant will not bloom that year.
Replanting in the summer is also not recommended, since new root shoots appear during this period.
Gardeners claim that irises can be replanted in the fall. The ideal period for this is considered to be the end of August - SeptemberWhen the root system is fully formed and can be easily divided into sections. If all transplanting rules are followed, a small seedling planted in the fall will grow into a lush, flowering bush the following spring.
The key to replanting irises in the fall is timing, allowing the plant time to harden before the cold weather sets in. It's generally accepted that they should be moved to a new location 5-6 weeks before the onset of severe frost. Therefore, the optimal time for replanting in northern regions is considered to be late August, in temperate latitudes – early to mid-September, and in southern regions, replanting is possible until the end of October.
Site selection and preparation
Irises love sunlight. Therefore, choose a well-lit spot for planting them (especially in the morning). A slightly elevated site with a slight south-facing slope is ideal. This will ensure good light and allow excess water to drain easily.
Irises don't like overly wet soil or close to the water table, as they have a shallow root system. If you need to transplant flowers to damp soil, a drainage layer is essential. In addition to light and humidity, consider whether the area is exposed to wind. A location sheltered from cold, gusty winds is ideal for irises.
Irises grow well in loamy or sandy loam soil that's slightly acidic. If the soil is very heavy and compact, add a little sand or peat. Conversely, if the soil is too loose and light, add a little clay. For acidic soil, add a little wood ash or ground chalk.
Before you begin replanting, you should also add it to the soil in the selected area. some potassium fertilizers and superphosphatesIt is not recommended to apply growth stimulants during or immediately after repotting, as they will only hinder root development and adaptation. Using manure as a fertilizer is also not recommended, as it can cause burns to the root system and the root collar of irises.
The soil in the area should be prepared in advance—10-20 days before replanting. During this time, it should be watered generously 3-4 times, preferably covering the area with plastic wrap after the final watering.
Stages of the procedure
For about two weeks before repotting, avoid watering or fertilizing the irises to allow the flowers to adapt more quickly to their new location. The leaves of the selected plants should be trimmed back to about 1/3 of their length. The cut should resemble the roof of a small house. Avoid removing all the leaves, as they continue to photosynthesize until frost. The plant is divided into divisions—single root sections measuring 1-2 cm in diameter and 3-5 cm in length. Irises of different varieties can be labeled with a marker on the remaining foliage.
To disinfect the cuttings, soak them for 20-30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, after which you can begin planting. Stages of the process:
- Dig a planting hole 10-15 cm deep.
- In the center of the hole, form a mound about 3 cm high.
- Place the division on a mound, spread the roots along the slopes of the mound.
- Cover the roots with soil so that part of the rhizome remains on the surface, compact the soil.
- Water generously (one bush will require about 500 ml of water).
Leave 10-50 cm between holes (depending on the variety and frequency of planting). Transplanting is best done on a dry, warm day.
Aftercare of the plant
To help irises root faster and better prepare for the coming cold weather, water them sparingly after repotting. Additional leaf pruning is not necessary, as this is done during the pre-repotting stage.
After planting, the tips of the leaves may turn slightly yellow; this is a normal reaction of the plant, which only indicates that the iris is adapting to new conditions.
In southern regions, there's no need to insulate irises for the winter. In northern and temperate latitudes, mulching them with peat, sawdust, straw, or simply hilling them up is sufficient. This should only be done when the average daily temperature drops below 5°C, otherwise the root system may rot. In the spring, as soon as the snow melts, the covering material should be removed.
The key is prevention The appearance of diseases and pests during and after replanting. Firstly, gardeners recommend replanting irises in a location where they haven't grown for the previous five years. Secondly, don't forget to disinfect the cuttings with a solution of potassium permanganate or ash.
There's no need to fertilize irises in the fall after repotting; the fertilizer applied to the soil before planting will be sufficient. The first feeding should be done in early spring before buds appear. During this period, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are recommended, as they stimulate vigorous growth of the above-ground portions of the plants.
Blooming irises, especially when several species are combined, look very beautiful. They easy to care for, are frost-resistant. To ensure lush blooms, irises should be periodically replanted in the fall. This is quite simple, so even novice gardeners can handle the process. The plant adapts quickly and, in just one season, transforms from a small seedling into a lush flower with several buds.
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