grassy Iris

[HA HA Budys Here]

I have a couple of clumps of iris but not the bearded type, this type is standard and grows like a clump of ornamental grass. They're purple. They didn't flower profusely this season but the green part of the plants is healthier than it's ever been.

Last time I seperated this huge clump into 2 smaller clumps into "pits" of very dark compost but for a couple seasons neither the stalks nor the leaves would stay upright as the compost didn't provide a good solid "foundation" NOw that the planting medium has naturalized and the plants look sturdy & strong, they're not flowering.

Do Iris prefer not to be treated to a soft, rich royal meal of home made compost, when I redivide for better flowering?

[gregpresley]

[Vox Humana]

It sounds like Siberian Iris "Caeser's brother."

have a large clump that is about 6 years old. It took a couple of years to get established and then bloomed well for a couple of years. The last two years it hasn't bloomed well at all. I think it needs to be divided. I also think that it is getting too much fertilizer. I try not to fertilize it directly, but it is on a slope and I suspect that there is nutrient run-off from the upper part of the bed. They like constant moisture and a good deal of sun to do well. I wouldn't get to involved with amending the soil as they probably do better in average soil.

[HA HA Budys Here]

Thanks. Mine are at the bottom of a slope as well. They used to get a shot of miracle-grow runoff from above but I've discontinued using fertilizers now because I've ammended just about every planted area on the property.

Thing is, I could swear they bloomed better last year and the year before, and I'm unsure whether to divide and re-plant or just leave them alone to naturalize some more.

[Vox Humana]

I'm sure mine need to be divided. The problem is that they have deep roots and are a pain to dig and divide. Then I have the added issue that I don't have any good place to put the extras.