Because spring was late in many places this yr , it is likely that most Iris bloom of youth will be crowded into June , except in the South . This will be the case for all types of Iris except the dwarfs and early intermediate bearded flag whose blossoms will have passed .
ahead of time this month , Iris enthusiast may delight the gorgeous blossoms of new tall barbate multifariousness as well as the Siberians which have been greatly better in recent eld . These are followed shortly by the lovely graceful flowers of such beardless types as the Southern species crossbreed and spurias . At the end of June the imposing Nipponese Iris will command attention everywhere .
Moving Irises now
Fortunately , not much ethnic activity is necessary during flower meter . This launch the Iris nurseryman an opportunity to enjoy the results of his proletariat and also a hazard to visit other people ’s gardens and commercial-grade planting . There , one can notice the in vogue gewgaw and select variety show to be add to the home collection . If desired , plants can be grasp at a nursery while in blush , taken home , and planted immediately . This can be done without any appreciable harm to the plant , though of course , it is better to wait until the rhizomes have matured in July before lifting and planting .
Cut flower stalks close
As soon as sword lily have finish bloom , no matter what type , edit out off the flower stalk near to the ground - flush with the top of the rootstock in the example of barbate Iris . This allows more air and lightness to penetrate into the clump and helps to maintain it in a goodish consideration . Likewise , when cutting Iris for place decoration , cut the chaff off close to the ground instead of snipping off section of the stem near the top . theme can always be shortened before being arranged .
In June , particularly during live wet spells , watch intimately for evidences of rhizome rotting , the foul smelling bacterial decay of the root , described last calendar month . Operate on the rootstalk , drastically if necessary , to remove all decayed portions and then smirch the lesion with sulfur or copper carbonate . If the bunkum has affected several rootstalk in a group , rescind the entire chunk and replant only the sound rhizomes after letting them dry thoroughly out of the ground for several day .
Any Iris borers that run away attending in May will by now have penetrate the rhizome and have become tidy worm . There is no choice but to dig up and discard rhizomes thus attacked , otherwise the harm cause by the bore bit is very likely to bring on rot and have worse mayhem later on .
Thrips and leaf spot
An periodic dusting of Iris plants with atomic number 16 - rotenone in June will help forestall leaf daub on whiskery Iris and keep in stop any Iris thrip which may be entertain on the leaves of Japanese Iris . On the latter , thrips if prevalent may prevent the blossoms from open in a normal fashion and the otherwise gorgeous blooms may be much deformed due to the insidious bodily function of this tiny insect , much the same as with Gladiolus .
With all these warning I do not wish to make the impression that flag are commonly plagued with diseases and insects when in fact they are remarkably free of them . However , as the former locution goes , “ An ounce of bar is worth a pound of cure . ”
By F. W. Cassebeer
