"An Iris Lover’s Catalog” 
5 
Cultural Directions 
of our many garden perennials, the Iris is one of the easiest to 
cultivate, and its natural adaptability to a wide variety of soil and 
weather conditions make it a remarkably satisfactory flower to plant. 
For best results, however, they should be planted in a sunny, well 
drained, medium-rich, mellow soil. 
Being a sun-loving plant, Iris should be placed where the sunshine 
can reach them at least half of the day and preferably during mid¬ 
day. In the south, some shade is advisable, while in the extreme 
south, considerable shade is necessary for successful culture. 
The different types of soil in which Iris will grow and thrive are 
surprising, but the ideal soil is a reasonably rich, sweet, garden loam. 
If your garden soil is sandy, clay and humus are recommended. If 
it is a stiff clay, add humus and sand. Be sure to have a well drained 
soil. If acid, sweeten your soil with lime or ground limestone. Bone- 
meal or half bonemeal and half superphosphate are safe fertilizers. 
Some well rotted humus should be added to your Iris bed each year. 
The ideal time to move and replant Iris is after their blooming 
season—during July, August, and September. New root growth 
starts during this period, attaining while it is still warm, the firm 
rooting, vigor and hardiness to winter well and give a wealth of 
beautiful blooms the following spring. Iris do not grow in cold 
weather and for this reason late fall plantings are difficult to pull 
through the winter. After freeze-up give them covering to protect 
them from the direct rays of the sun as alternate freezing and thawing 
are injurious. 
In the south west and central south west regions of the U. S. it 
is best to plant Iris after the hot weather, generally during late August, 
September, and October, just before the fall rains which are most 
beneficial. We shall be glad to arrange to ship you fine Iris specimens 
to plant at this time giving them sufficient time to grow and become 
firmly rooted for blossoming next spring. 
The Spring planting of Iris is neither wise nor satisfactory — 
almost invariably bringing discouraging results. For this reason we 
frankly advise against and do not make spring shipments—feeling 
that we would rather sacrifice what business we may lose because of 
this stand than have our customers disappointed in the growth of 
Iris planted in the spring. 
Planting 
Iris should be planted shallow, the type of soil determining the 
depth. In heavy soils, plant with the top of the rhizome just below 
the surface—in sandy soils plant about l /z inch or *4 inch deep. In 
planting, spread the feeding roots as much as possible and press down 
the soil firmly over the roots and around each rhizome. If the soil is 
dry, soak it thoroughly. If your Iris beds get very dry during a hot 
summer, a heavy soaking, not a light springle, will be beneficial. 
Too much water on Iris is to be avoided. 
Iris require very little care. Keep weeds out and stir the soil 
shallow but do not disturb the surface roots. For best results divide 
and replant the roots every three or four years after the blooming 
season, preferably during July and August. 
If planting is done in heavy soil, especially where ground is level, 
we recommend raising the bed to insure good drainage. This is 
especially important in winter as the effect of water and ice are more 
injurious than cold. See that no snow water is allowed to stand on 
your Iris. Dry, cold storage is best. In the more northerly states 
cover well after freeze-up. 
