IRIS PLANTING AND CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
PLANTING YOUR NEW IRIS 

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SPACING FOR GROUPS OF IRIS 
IN THE GARDEN 

DIVISION OF ESTABLISHED 
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(2) for Maximum Division 
NEVER ALLOW PLANTS TO GET CROWDED 
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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 scil loose. 
If your winters are cold we suggest an early planting 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 rhizome 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 disturb 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 working well 
into the soil. If you prefer you may do this in the spring. A com- 
plete 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 condi- 
tion 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. 
JOIN THE AMERICAN IRIS SOCIETY 
