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Spring is a great time to plant many types of perennial flowers, including irises. These beloved plants are always popular among gardeners all over the world and are very often found in personal plots, parks, and public gardens. Planting irises in open ground in spring is a fairly simple procedure, but it also has its own subtleties.
When to plant irises: in spring or autumn
Irises are a fairly large group of perennials. All plants in it can be divided into 2 main types:
- Rhizomatous. They have a dense, massive root that remains in the ground for the winter after the above-ground part of the plant dies. Rhizomatous species are distinguished by their unpretentiousness and winter hardiness.
- Bulbous. Such species are more demanding in terms of growing conditions and care. Iris bulbs are dug up annually.
All irises are divided into rhizomatous and bulbous
Rhizomatous varieties of irises are most often planted in open flower beds in the spring, as well as in August-September. This way they will have time to take root well and prepare for winter.Bulbous irises are most often planted in open ground in the fall, in September-October, although, if necessary, this can be done in the spring.
When can you plant irises in spring?
In spring, rhizomatous irises can be planted in open ground only after the snow has completely melted and the ground has warmed up to a temperature of + 10 ° C. Bulbous species can also be planted at this time, but in this case they will bloom only the next year.
Dates for planting irises in the spring in the regions
The territory of Russia is huge, and there are quite a few climatic zones in it. When planting irises in spring, you need to focus not on calendar time, but on local conditions. In the southern regions they can be planted as early as March, in the Central region - at the end of April.
In the spring in the Moscow region, suitable weather for planting irises in open ground usually occurs in early May. In the North-West region, spring is later and longer, so planting work there begins a little later. It is better to plan planting irises in open ground in the spring in the Urals and Siberia for the second half of the last spring month.
When planting, it is necessary to maintain intervals between neighboring plants.
How to plant irises in spring
Planting irises in the spring is quite simple; this procedure does not require special skills and does not take much time. Although these perennials are unpretentious, it is important to choose a site suitable for their cultivation, prepare the soil well, and carry out the procedure correctly. In this case, the result will be positive.
Site selection and soil preparation
All types of irises love sunny areas protected from the wind.Areas on the south side of fences, buildings and structures are well suited for them. All irises prefer fertile, breathable soil with a neutral acidity level. At the same time, different species have different attitudes towards soil moisture and the proximity of water:
- Siberian, swamp. Can be grown in flooded areas, near water bodies, in areas with high groundwater levels.
Siberian and marsh varieties grow well near water
- Germanic, bearded, reticulated. Requires moderately moist soils and needs periodic moistening.
Bearded and Germanic varieties do not like heavy moisture
- Dutch. They prefer dry areas, which require watering only during periods of severe drought.
The most drought-resistant species is Dutch
Before planting, the area must be dug well, cleared of roots, debris, and weeds. If the soil is acidic, be sure to add ash, as well as dolomite flour. To improve breathability, you can add sand, and to increase fertility - 1 glass of superphosphate and humus at the rate of 1-2 buckets per 1 square meter. m. It is advisable to carry out all this work in advance, several weeks before the planned planting.
As a rule, irises are grown in a separate flower bed. They grow in breadth quite quickly, growing on top of each other, so instead of a beautiful green fan, after a few years you sometimes see a shapeless bush with a bald spot in the middle.
Periodically, flowers need to be planted, dividing the rhizomes
To prevent this from happening, the irises are periodically dug up, divided and planted. It is recommended to perform this operation once every 3-4 years.
Algorithm for planting irises in the ground in spring
The step-by-step algorithm for planting irises in open ground in the spring is quite simple. Rhizomatous varieties are planted in shallow holes, in the center of which an earthen mound is poured. The rhizome is placed on it, and the lobe is straightened to the sides. After this, the hole is carefully covered with earth, which is periodically compacted. As a result, the top bud should remain completely above the ground. If it is buried, the iris will not bloom.
When planting, the top bud should be above the ground
Bulbous irises are also easy to plant. To do this, dig an even furrow 7-8 cm deep in the garden bed and spill it with water. After this, the bulbs are placed in the center at intervals of 20-30 cm so that the sprout is directed upward. Then they are lightly sunk into the ground, after which they are sprinkled and lightly compacted. The planting procedure ends with abundant watering.
Rules for caring for irises in spring
In spring, caring for irises is easy; after winter, they emerge from the ground quite early. Sometimes there may still be islands of unmelted snow on the flower garden, and the plants are already beginning to sprout from rhizomes and bulbs. At this time, irises must be weeded regularly, preventing weeds from clogging young plants, loosening the soil; mulching gives good results. Not all species require watering; flower beds need to be irrigated only if spring is early, friendly and dry. It is best to do this in the evening, after the heat has subsided.
The best time to water irises is in the evening.
In early spring, irises are fed for intensive growth and abundant flowering with a mixture of nitrogen and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers, which are applied to the flower beds in dissolved form in a ratio of 1: 2: 1.5.You can also use modern granular or liquid long-acting fertilizers designed specifically for flowers.
In spring, it is very important to prevent the appearance of fungal diseases. As a preventive measure, young plants are sprayed with Fundazol. The rhizomes need to be inspected and, if rot is detected, the damaged parts should be cut out, and then the healthy sections should be cauterized with formaldehyde and sprinkled with wood ash.
To prevent the appearance of pests, irises are treated with insecticides
To prevent the appearance of pests, irises that have reached a height of 10 cm are sprayed with any insecticidal preparation, repeating the treatment after 1.5-2 weeks.
Features of caring for irises in the spring in the regions
There is no particular difference between caring for irises and planting them in open ground in the spring in the Moscow region or in Siberia. Due to the climate, there will be differences only in the timing of the work. The very list of activities (weeding, loosening, watering and mulching the soil, preventing the appearance of pests and diseases) will remain unchanged and does not depend on the growing region.
Conclusion
Planting irises in open ground in spring is not difficult for gardeners, but this is not the most favorable time for work. It is better to plant bulbous varieties before winter, and rhizome varieties at the end of the last summer month or in September. However, spring planting of irises can be done if, for example, there is no other option due to problems with planting material, but flowering in the first year will most likely have to be sacrificed.
