Irises are one of my all-time favorite flowers. They’re so easy and maintenance-free, making them perfect for lazy gardeners like me. Below, I’ll show you exactly what I do to prepare my Irises for Spring. Trust me, it’s super simple, and you’ll have beautiful flowers in no time!
How to Prepare Your Irises for Spring
1. Fertilize Your Irises
Irises don’t need to be fertilized frequently. Just fertilize once a year, in the Spring. I use a slow-release granule fertilizer on my Irises. Use fertilizers with less nitrogen, such as a 6-10-10.
The first number is for nitrogen, the second is for phosphorus, and the third is for potassium. Don’t use a high-nitrogen fertilizer since that will just result in fewer flowers.
I like the granule fertilizer as opposed to the liquid fertilizer because I’m lazy. I find it easier to sprinkle fertilizer on my Irises. With the liquid fertilizer, you will have to mix it with water, which is just an extra step in the process.
So I have a confession to make: there have been years where I have been too busy and have not fertilized my Irises at all! They still lived, but I did notice fewer flowers. Fertilizing does make a difference in helping your Irises bloom nicely. But if you forget to fertilize, no worries. Your irises will live.
2. Mulch
I mulch my Irises once a year in the Spring. Mulching helps my Irises retain water, so I don’t have to worry about them drying out. Another advantage of mulching is that it keeps the weeds out. And it makes my flower bed look nice and neat.
If you’re a lazy gardener like me, you should mulch your Irises so you don’t have to water them as frequently. Mulching helps the Irises retain water.
Irises are so low-maintenance—all you have to do is do these 2 things once a year. But if you forget or are too busy, no problem—your Irises will still bloom beautifully!
Check out my article on how to grow Irises the lazy way!
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Beginner’s Guide: How to Divide Irises (video)