Best Time To Separate Iris Bulbs

Lift the clump of iris plants from the ground with a spade or fork.

Best time to separate iris bulbs.

Remember that bulbs tend to pull themselves deeper than they were originally planted and spread out. The best time to move bulbs is when the foliage is just about gone the plant is no longer actively growing the bulb is recharged and you can still see where they are. Plant irises in late summer to early fall when nighttime temperatures remain between 40 and 50 degrees fahrenheit or above. When your iris bed starts becoming really overgrown it is a good idea to dig up the bulbs and separate them and either share the bulbs with a friend or move some of them to another part of your yard.

Many gardeners wonder when is the best time to transplant iris and how should one go about moving iris from one place to another. Transplanting iris is a normal part of iris care. The tall bearded iris varieties are best planted closer to fall because they go dormant in early to mid summer. Given that division can differ slightly between irises it is important to know which irises you are seeking to divide.

Carefully dig up your iris clumps with a spade shovel and gently lift each clump from the soil. Take care when digging that you don t damage the bulbs themselves. When well cared for iris plants will need to be divided on a regular basis. If tried on other irises be aware that there may be delays in flowering as a result.

This article applies to the bearded iris the best known of the irises. The best time to divide irises is during late summer usually anytime between july and the first of september. Shake off the soil and rinse each rhizome with water. The word bulb can be a bit confusing when applied to an iris.

This gives them plenty of time to get established before the coming winter. The best time to dig up iris bulbs or rhizomes in the garden is between the last days of summer and early fall.