The irises in your garden will benefit from dividing. Dividing your iris will avoid overcrowding and will make sure you have bountiful iris flowers year after year. It’s easy to divide irises. It’s also easy to replant your iris transplant. Here is a beginner’s guide showing step-by-step how to divide iris and how to replant iris. You can also watch the video below on How to Divide Irises.
When to Divide Irises?
Irises need to be divided when flowering declines and the clumps become overcrowded. The best time to divide irises is in early Spring or late summer. It’s best to divide irises after a rain shower because the soil will be soft, making it easier to divide irises.
How to Divide Irises
Step 1: Dig Up the Iris
Divide the iris by removing a section of the iris. Use a shovel to dig up the iris. It’s not easy to dig up the iris. Your goal is to remove an entire clump of the iris. Be prepared for a workout when you are digging up your iris. It’s best to do it after rain. This is the most difficult part of the entire process of dividing your iris.
Step 2: Divide
After you have dug up the clump of iris, you can use a scissor to divide it up into smaller sections.
Step 3: Dig a Hole
Find a spot to plant your iris. Make sure you pick a sunny location. Ideally, you want a location that receives 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. Dig a hole for your iris.
Step 4: Plant the Iris
Plant the iris into the hole.
Step 5: Trim the leaves
Trim the leaves of your iris to about one-third height. This will allow your iris to concentrate its energy on producing new roots.
Step 6: Water
Water the iris transplant. Make sure you keep up with the watering for a month. Once your iris has established roots then you don’t have to water your iris. It will survive on natural rainwater. Except, if there is a drought, you should water your iris.
Step 7: Fertilize
After planting your iris, fertilize the new transplant with an all-purpose fertilizer. Or you can also fertilize with a lower nitrogen fertilizer such as a 5-10-10 fertilizer.
