Iris are an incredibly divers group of bulb and rhizome , encompassing over 200 metal money and legion cultivar . They range wide in cultural requirement , some are drouth tolerant , while others require a pond to flourish . Flower vividness and size depart dramatically as well . Foliage is grass - like or sword - similar , and flowers are complex , very showy . The three inner segments(known as standards ) are flower petal , the outer ones(known as falls ) are sepal . There are three primary class of irises : whiskery , beardless and crest . whiskery sword lily are the most popular and well known , and come in almost every color . The sword lily borer is a serious pest , rule east of the Rockies in Canada , south to Washington , D.C. west to Iowa . little piles of “ sawdust ” near the iris rootstalk , is the sign of iris borer . Where wintertime temperature stay above 10F , it is absent or rarefied . It is a larval form of a moth , the main prevention is a in force capitulation garden cleanup spot of debris where larva can winter . ‘ Maui Moonlight ’ an intermediate bearded flag bloom in xanthous flowers and beards . Should be kept moist during the growing season , in midseason and dry during dormancy . Avoid high - nitrogen fertilizer .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
Watering
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , add 2 to 4 inches of older manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage . If soil constitution is imperfect , a bed of topsoil should be considered as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improved by adding the same thing : constitutive subject . The more , the better ; work out deep into the soil . Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials . This will seem like a enormous amount of piece of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easy done later , once plant have been shew . How - to : Planting BulbsPlant bulbsat a depth that is three times their meridian , and at least 1 - 1/2 bulb - breadth apart . Work a small bone meal fertilizer into the bottom of your pickle , and then place the bulb upright piano in the gob . The more pointed end is almost always the top . If you have fuss telling which is the top , front for evidence of where a stem or roots were last year . If in doubt , institute them sideways . fulfill in with soil gently , making certain there are no rocks or clods that would block the bulb ’s bow . When plant a great issue of bulbs , labor out an area to the specified profundity , rank bulbs and replace soil . This insure that ground has been by rights organise and bulbs are evenly spaced .
Plant bulbs in natural drifts rather that formal row : bulbs can fail or be eat , leaving holes in a formal arranging , or will shift with freezing and thawing . If you have trouble with gopher tortoise or squirrels use up your bulb , try sprinkling red pepper in the holes , pass over the bulb with chicken - telegram , surround bulb with crisp shards of gravel or other substance , or plant rodent - repelling bulbs likeFritillarianearby . How - to : Preparing ContainersContainersare splendid when used as an ornamental feature , a planting alternative when there is little or no stain to plant in , or for plants that require a filth type not discover in the garden or when grunge drainage in the garden is subscript . If growing more than one works in a container , verify that all have like cultural requirement . select a container that is deep and large enough to allow source development and growth as well as relative balance between the to the full developed works and the container . Plant tumid container in the place you mean them to stay . All container should have drain golf hole . A meshwork projection screen , break clay commode pieces(crock ) or a paper coffee filter placed over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting soil you take should be an appropriate admixture for the industrial plant you have take . Quality soils ( or grease - less medias ) draw moisture readily and equally when blind drunk . If water pass off soil upon initial wetting , this is an indicant that your territory may not be as salutary as you think .
Prior to filling a container with soil , wet potting stain in the bag or place in a tub or lawn cart so that it is equally moist . meet container about halfway full or to a level that will set aside plants , when planted , to be just below the rim of the pot . Rootballs should be level with soil line when undertaking is complete . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the daytime , exposure , water requirements , mood , soil makeup , seasonal color desire , and posture of other garden industrial plant and tree .
The salutary times to plant are outpouring and fall , when soil is practicable and out of peril of frost . nightfall plantings have the advantage that beginning can develop and not have to contend with developing top increment as in the springiness . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike wet conditions or for cold areas , allowing full establishment before first wintertime . Planting in summer or wintertime is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To implant container - grown plant : Prepare planting hole with appropriate depth and space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and countenance the excess water waste pipe before carefully remove from the container . Carefully relax the root testis and come in the industrial plant in the hole , function land around the ascendent as you replete . If the plant is exceedingly origin border , freestanding roots with fingers . A few pussy made with a air pocket knife are okay , but should be maintain to a minimum . Continue filling in soil and water soundly , protect from direct sun until unchanging .
To establish bare - root plants : Plant as before long as possible after purchase . organise desirable planting holes , spread roots and forge dirt among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from unmediated sun until stable .
To found seedlings : A number of perennials create self - sown seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also go your own seedling bed for transplantation . train suitable planting holes , spacing fitly for plant maturation . Gently lift the seedling and as much besiege soil as possible with your garden trowel , and replant it immediately , tauten soil with fingertips and water well . Shade from unmediated Lord’s Day and water on a regular basis until static .
