Wedel's 2023 Iris Planting Guide

Planting German Bearded Iris
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Tall bearded irises grow best in well-cultivated, well-draining soil, and prefer bright, sunny locations. Due to their height, tall irises make a lovely back-of-the border display. Some gardeners use bearded iris as statement plantings, creating a naturalized clump to stand alone at a building corner, or near a mailbox.

Allow for plenty of space between rhizomes so they don't get too crowded. Prepare garden bed by loosening soil to a depth of 12-15 inches. In a 2 gallon pail, make a mix of 2/3 Flower Doo Potting Soil and 1/3 your soil with 1/2 cup of BulbTone.  

Dig a shallow hole that is large enough to accommodate the rhizome or clump of rhizomes. The hole should be about 10 inches in diameter and about 4 inches deep

Form a mound of soil in the center of the hole for the planting base. The rhizome should be placed on this mound- high enough so the top of the rhizome is slightly above soil level. Spread the roots down the sides of the mound. Fill the hole with the Flower Doo mixture, firm it gently and then water well. Each grouping of irises should be spaced about 2 feet apart.

In early spring, apply ¼ cup of Bulb Tone to each iris to promote more blooms and healthy growth.

In late August, cut back the green foliage to about 6-8 inches high so the plant won't waste energy trying to maintain the leaves throughout the winter. Divide your rhizomes every 3-4 years.