Bearded iris need little care, offer great blooms

Owing to climactic conditions here in the Inland Northwest and my admittedly lazy ways, perennials in my garden have to meet a long list of criteria. They have to be heat and cold tolerant, drought resistant, live forever, have beautiful flowers and be easy to care for and propagate. Perhaps that is why Iris germanica or bearded iris has such a place in my heart and garden.

Dwarf or standard, bearded irises are hardy in zones 3-10, can take blistering heat and survive 30 below zero. They are deer resistant and have relatively few disease or pest problems. Oops, forget to water them? They’ll not only survive but flower too. Oops, forget to cut them back or divide them? They still bloom, but with a few less flowers perhaps.

It’s no wonder that German iris has such a classic place in the perennial world and has been popular for so long. They are outstanding cut flowers, and with a little care put on spectacular displays.

Blooming once in late spring and early summer, bearded iris only demand two things. When planting make certain that the rhizome (that knobby rootlike part) is not buried too deep. The top of the rhizome should be slightly visible—not covered with soil. To flower well, the rhizome needs sun. After flowering, cutting the swordlike leaves back to about 4-6 inches high ensures rhizomes get all the sun they need for next season’s bloom.

Irises are susceptible to rot if they get too moist. That sandy, hot patch in your yard is perfect for their cultural needs. They can also take some shade if the soil is well drained. They will thrive in dry shade — under those pine trees, for instance.

When fertilizing, skip the compost or manure and use a low nitrogen fertilizer. No need to mulch either — keep that rhizome uncovered. In other words the less you do, the happier they are.

The one thing most of us don’t like about Iris is that they bloom only once. There are a number of new cultivars that have a repeat bloom in the fall. They’re more expensive than once-blooming varieties but are worth the price if you want lots of flowers. Iris starts will be showing up at your favorite nursery this month. Don’t wait to plant. They’ll do best if you plant before damp weather arrives.

What to do in the garden this week

Visit your favorite nursery for bargains. Lots of plants are discounted now, and you can plant during summer as long as you keep them well watered. Look for iris rhizomes and early bulb arrivals.

Clean out your birdbaths and feeders. Debris and continued hot weather contributes to the spread of avian disease. Use plain water and a little bleach to disinfect them. Keep your birdbath filled — natural water sources are drying up.

Check hummingbird feeders regularly and change the solution frequently. If ants are a problem on post mounted feeders, smear some Tanglefoot on the post. It can be purchased at many garden centers.

Begin planting beet, chard and broccoli seed for a fall crop.

Compost your grass clippings, yard waste and spent perennial foliage. Compost weeds only if they have not started to go to seed.

Knapweed and several other noxious weeds are blooming, so keep up your weed patrols. Dispose of the blooming weeds in the trash and not the compost pile.

Consider changing the height setting on your lawn mower. A lawn height of 3 inches will help the grass withstand the summer heat and reduce evaporation.

Harvest herbs just before blooming. They are at their most flavorful then.

As the natural forage for deer dries out, they will begin moving into our gardens. Get deer repellents on plants as soon as possible. There are several commercial repellents available on the market that will work if applied according to their directions. There are a number of homemade repellents that involve eggs, hot pepper or garlic. If the recipe does not call for a fixing agent, add some Sta-Stuk or other agent that will fix the spray to the leaves and not wash off. Remember to spray new growth or emerging flowers regularly.

Irises are susceptible to rot if they get too moist. That sandy, hot patch in your yard is perfect for their cultural needs.