In the spring, bearded irises (Iris germanica) can be real showstoppers with their masses of gorgeous blossoms. However, after a few years of dependable displays, established bearded iris beds often fizzle in the flower power department.
What’s wrong? Too little fertilizer? Too dry? Too wet?
Try too mature. As with all plants, happy, healthy bearded irises will grow and expand their root bases. This is desirable, of course, but it can lead to overcrowding, which will definitely hinder bloom production.
The easiest solution is to simply divide your sputtering beauties. Usually done about every five years or so, it gives you a chance to not only revive your irises, but also share some with gardening friends. And guess what? This month is a good time to do the deed, so roll up those sleeves and get to work!
Using a shovel — or, even better, a spading pitchfork — dig up the bed by carefully raising iris rhizomes from their underworld lair, which is usually just below the soil’s surface. Then, wash them and gently pull, or, if necessary, cut apart, being careful not to wreck too many roots.
Now, hold out your ring finger and compare it to each rhizome, looking for ones that are about as wide with leaf blades and roots still attached. These have the most potential for strong flower production in the future. Slightly larger rhizomes will also work, but big ol’ chubby ones are usually spent when it comes to delivering maximum flower displays. Rhizomes that are discolored, full of holes, or squishy should be discarded.
Before replanting, snip the leaves back to about 6 inches long, and also cut away any lingering flower stalks. Then run off to find a sunny garden spot that has well-draining, heavily amended soil.
Rhizomes should be planted about a foot apart horizontal to the soil’s surface, and slightly below ground — going deep can ding future flower production. Set the ’zomes on small mounds of prepared dirt and spread their roots downward into the surrounding soil.
Since transplanted bearded irises will be working to become established this fall, help them along by watering during any extended dry stretches. Next year will be a transition period, so their bloom show probably won’t be up to typical grand standards, but be patient and you will be rewarded with reinvigorated flower displays in the years to come!
Save leftover pots for planting projects next year.
If you had a ton of fun expanding your garden this year, you probably also had a great big ol’ pile of leftover plastic pots from all the newbie plantings. As a responsible gardener, sending them to the landfill is not an option. As a practical — or, in my case, cheap — gardener, saving them for planting projects next year is the way to go. Just soak them in a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water for an hour, wash with a brush or sponge, and then wipe dry. Going these extra steps to clean used containers will help assure they will be free of overwintering fungi, diseases, or bad bug eggs that could spoil your potting garden party next spring!
To Do in the Garden
September
- Now is a good time to fill up the veggie patch with such cool-season favorites as carrots, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, collards, kale, lettuce, onions, mustard greens, parsnips, spinach, radishes, and turnips.
- Migrating garden-friendly flyers will appreciate it this fall if you keep the bird feeder well stocked and the bird bath regularly filled with fresh water.
October
- Thinking about morphing your Halloween pumpkin into a Thanksgiving decoration as well? A pumpkin will retain its color and shape longer if the rind is intact — in other words, no carving. Also, an extra 2- to 3-inch bit of stem still attached will help preserve a pumpkin, so keep that in mind while you are hunting at your local pickin’ patch.
- If you are still mowing the lawn as autumn leaves begin tumblin’ down, use a bagger attachment to collect clippings of both. This mix of dry and wet organic material is the perfect all-natural fuel to start a compost pile.
- The 2025 Pet Parade
- Celebrated Spirits: Fo{u}r Friends
- Celebrated Spirits: The Old Wonderland
- Restaurant Profile: Cape Fear Seafood Co.
- Erica Chats: Crisp Air & Clean Closets
- Garden Adventurer: Dividing Irises
- Out & About in Wake County: September/October 2025
- Just BOO It!
- Building Connection
- Pay It Forward: Shop with a Cop
- Small Business Spotlight: Vintage Labrador
- Paws on the Go
