IRIS PLANTING AND 
TIME TO PLANT 
Iris rhizomes should be planted from July until late in the fall. 
We do not recommend that you plant in the extreme heat but 
if it is necessary to do so they should be kept moist and the 
soil loose. If your winters are cold we suggest an early plant- 
ing to enable the feeder roots to become well established. 
HOW TO PLANT 
Plant your Iris as soon as received. If you are unable to plant 
immediately open your package and spread the roots in a cool 
place and keep them dry. In light soils plant the rhizomes 
just under the surface of the ground in a hole large enough 
to allow the full spread of the roots. The top of the new Iris 
should be just above the level of the ground and in case of 
very light sandy soils you should plant slightly deeper. At the 
time of planting be sure your soil is damp and pack it firmly 
around the plant. 
WHERE TO PLANT 
Select a sunny well drained location where the soil is light 
and easy to work. Be sure that there is no water standing 
around your new plant as this will cause rot. Iris should have 
a minimum of a half day of sunshine. 
PLANTING DISTANCE 
If you have plenty of room in your garden you may space your 
plants as far as two feet apart although a mass effect will be 
given if they are planted closer. In some cases they are planted 
as close as 10 inches but it is necessary to separate them 
oftener. 
HOW TO CULTIVATE 
As your new plant is planted very close to the top of the 
ground you should cultivate very shallowly in order not to dis- 
turb the feeder roots. Clean cultivation is essential as the 
rhizome likes sunlight. Therefore, keep all dead leaves and 
foreign matter away from the plant. 
HOW TO WATER 
It is very difficult to set a hard and fast rule that will govern 
the watering of Iris in all parts of the country. As soon as you 
have planted your new Iris it should be watered and kept damp 
until the root system is established. Iris does not require a 
great amount of water, but should be cultivated soon after 
watering to prevent the ground from caking. 
HOW TO FERTILIZE 
Fertilize with a non-acid forming fertilizer as Iris prefer a 
non-acid soil. Steamed bone meal for superphosphate may be 
used at the time of planting by mixing in a handful and work- 
ing well into the soil. If you prefer you may do this in the 
spring. A complete fertilizer such as Vigoro may be used and 
we suggest that you dust this around your plants. We do not 
recommend the use of barnyard manure unless it is well rotted 
and thoroughly worked into the soil before planting time. Be 
sure that the manure does not come into direct contact with 
the rhizome. 
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 
All Iris tend to make clumps and to avoid a root bound con- 
dition they should be separated every three or four years. This 
should be done in mid-summer and as some varieties multiply 
very rapidly care should be taken in selecting those to be 
separated. 
IMPORTANT 
Do not be alarmed if some rhizomes in your shipment are 
larger than others as certain varieties tend to grow larger than 
others although the smaller plants are just as healthy. 

16 McLEAN BULB FARMS 
