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Spring is a great time to plant many types of perennial flowers, including irises. These plants, beloved by many, are invariably popular with gardeners all over the world and are very often found in personal plots, in parks, squares. Planting irises in the 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 roughly divided into 2 main types:
- Rhizome. They have a dense massive root that remains in the ground for the winter after the death of the aerial part of the plant. Rhizome 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 rhizome and bulbous
Rhizome varieties of irises are most often planted in open flower beds in spring, as well as in August-September. So 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 to plant irises in spring
In spring, rhizome irises can be planted in open ground only after the snow has completely melted and the ground warms 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 of planting irises in spring in the regions
The territory of Russia is huge, and there are quite a lot of climatic zones in it. When planting irises in spring, you need to focus not on the 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 is usually set in early May. In the North-West region, spring is later and protracted, so planting work is started there a little later. It is better to plan the planting of irises in open ground in the Urals and Siberia in the second half of the last spring month.
When planting, the intervals between adjacent plants must be observed
How to plant irises in spring
Planting irises in 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 that is suitable for their cultivation, prepare the soil well, and correctly carry out the procedure itself. In this case, the result will be positive.
Site selection and soil preparation
All types of irises love sunny, sheltered areas. The territories on the south side of fences, buildings and structures are well suited for them. All irises prefer fertile, breathable soil with neutral acidity. At the same time, different types have different attitudes towards soil moisture and the proximity of water:
- Siberian, marsh. 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. They require moderately moist soils, they need periodic moisture.
Bearded and Germanic varieties do not like strong moisture
- Dutch. They prefer dry areas, which need to be watered only during periods of severe drought.
The most drought-resistant species is Dutch
Before planting, the site must be well dug up, cleaned of roots, debris, weeds. If the soil is acidic, be sure to add ash, as well as dolomite flour. To improve air permeability, you can add sand, and to increase fertility - 1 glass of superphosphate and humus at the rate of 1-2 buckets per 1 sq. m. It is advisable to carry out all these works in advance, several weeks before the planned landing.
As a rule, irises are grown in a separate flower bed. They quickly grow in breadth, growing on top of each other, therefore, instead of a beautiful green fan, after a few years you sometimes have to observe a shapeless bush with a bald spot in the middle.
Periodically, flowers need to be planted, dividing the rhizomes
To prevent this from happening, irises are periodically dug up, divided and planted. It is recommended to perform such an operation once every 3-4 years.
Algorithm for planting irises in the spring in the ground
The step-by-step algorithm for planting irises in open ground in spring is quite simple. Rhizome 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 on the sides. After that, the hole is carefully covered with earth, which is periodically compacted. As a result, the upper bud should remain completely above the ground. If you deepen it, then 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 a flat groove 7-8 cm deep in the garden bed, spill it with water. After that, the bulbs are placed in the center with an interval of 20-30 cm so that the sprout is directed upwards. Then they are slightly sunk into the ground, after which they are sprinkled and slightly compacted. The planting procedure ends with abundant watering.
Rules for caring for irises in spring
In spring, care for irises is easy; after winter, they emerge from the ground quite early. Sometimes on the flower garden there may still be islands of unmelted snow, 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 a good result. Watering is not required for all species; it is necessary to irrigate the flower beds only if the spring is early, friendly and dry. This is best done in the evening, after the heat has subsided.
Watering irises is best 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 a dissolved form in a ratio of 1: 2: 1.5. You can also use modern granular or liquid fertilizers designed specifically for flowers.
In the spring, it is very important to carry out prevention against the appearance of fungal diseases. As a preventive measure, young plants are sprayed with Fundazole. The rhizomes should be examined and, if rot is found, cut out the damaged parts, and then cauterize healthy sections with formalin and sprinkle 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 care for irises in spring in the regions
There is no particular difference between caring for irises and planting them in the open ground in the springtime in the Moscow region or in Siberia. Due to the peculiarities of the climate, the differences will only be in the timing of the work. The very same list of measures (weeding, loosening, watering and mulching the soil, preventing the appearance of pests and diseases) will remain unchanged and does not depend on the region of cultivation.
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 way out due to problems with planting material, but the flowering in the first year will most likely have to be sacrificed.
