When to prune irises after flowering for the winter, timing and rules
In order for irises to bloom all summer, you need to know when it is best to prune them after flowering for the winter. Other tips for caring for these flowers will come in handy. If all agrotechnical measures are carried out correctly in the fall, then the irises will safely spend the winter in open beds. Detailed instructions describing each step will help to carry out the procedure without problems. In the future, it is necessary to provide plants with special care.
Do irises need to be pruned before winter?
Irises are perennial ornamental plants. For the entire season of their growth and development, pruning is carried out several times:
- in the case when the leaves turn yellow or spots appear on them;
- after the end of the flowering period;
- before the start of frost;
- some varieties of irises have additional pruning.
Irises must be prepared for wintering. The leaves are cut first, and then the buds. Withered flowers and dried leaves take away excess nutrients and energy, become a source of infection, and also harbor pests.
When is the best time to crop?
The pruning procedure is best done in the fall, after the plant has completely bloomed and the flowers and leaves are dry. The timing largely depends on the region in which the flowers are grown. In most cases, the time coincides with mid-October.
Removing leaves in the fall is carried out, observing a number of rules:
- leaves are best cut in the form of a cone;
- the height of the fan of leaves after cutting should be 15 cm from the ground;
- leaves that were cut off should be burned;
- sprinkle the roots with a layer of dry earth;
- for the winter, the plant is completely covered.
The green part of the plant does not need to be removed. Green leaves continue to nourish the flower's root system, increasing its resistance to frost and other unfavorable factors.
During flowering
When a flower enters the active flowering phase, it is not recommended to perform any actions with it. It is better to prune only 3.5 weeks after the irises have faded. During this time, the plant will restore the strength that was spent on the formation of peduncles. In addition, new root ramifications will begin to appear. Time coincides with the last days of August or the first days of September.
If it becomes necessary to trim flowers during flowering, then the procedure is carried out in compliance with some recommendations:
- remove only those buds that have already bloomed;
- it is important not to damage all unopened buds;
- the stem is cut off after the buds wither, leaving a height of 3 cm from the root.
Attention! Leaves should not be cut off during active flowering days or immediately after. Actions will harm the development of the plant, and in some cases will cause its death.
After flowering
In early September, the flowering of irises completely ends. At this time, you should trim the wilted flowers along with the stem and cut off the seed pods. Cut off the stems low - about 2.5 cm above the rhizome. If they are not cut, they start to rot.
After trimming the flowers and stems, the leaves can be left until they turn yellow. In most cases, removal is started only after they completely lie on the ground - in mid-October. A fan of cut leaves 14 cm high is left.
When transplanting
If you plan to transplant or reproduce a flower in the summer, then it is better to cut the foliage. A fan of cut leaves with a height of 17 cm is left. The procedure will preserve a sufficient amount of moisture and nutrients in the roots. As a result, the plant will take root faster on a new piece of land.
It is recommended to prune the leaves four days before transplanting. The procedure itself is best done 14 days after the end of flowering. All actions are carried out in the evening, after sunset.
When seeds ripen
During the ripening period of the seed box (ripening begins after the flower withers), iris bushes also need pruning. All dried buds are cut off. If it is necessary to propagate a flower, then leave one.
Features of cutting different types of irises
The procedure is carried out with sharp garden tools:
- Dried flowers can be pinched by hand.
- Peduncles are cut to the very base.
- The stem is cut, leaving a height of 3.5 cm.
- Dried foliage should protrude 14 cm above the soil surface.
Irises are divided into two main types, each of which requires a different approach during care.
Rhizome
Rhizome varieties of irises are undemanding to care. Yellowed and dried leaves are removed as needed. If there are no special reasons, then the autumn pruning may not be carried out.
Bulbous
Bulb varieties of irises require more attention. They are distinguished by the presence of a rhizome in the form of a bulb. After the flowering stage is over, the stems and leaves are cut off, and then the bulb is dug out. The procedure is carried out carefully so as not to damage the roots.
In the future, the bulbs are dried and removed to a cool place, and in the fall they are planted again in flower beds. In the northern regions, it is better to plant the bulb in the spring so that it does not freeze over the winter.
Caring for flowers after pruning: preparing for winter
After completing the flowering stage, irises need to be helped to accumulate strength and trace elements for a successful winter. Fertilization is an important point in the care.
Top dressing and watering
After the end of flowering, the plant in the open field does not need frequent watering. If the weather is dry, then two waterings per fall are enough. In rainy weather, there is no need for additional moisture.
The soil around each iris bush should be loosened to a depth of 2 cm and all weeds removed. The root branches of the plant are close to the surface of the ground, so the loosening procedure must be carried out carefully.
It is better to choose potassium-phosphorus fertilizers as top dressing. They are applied 12 days before the pruning procedure and 14 days after. It should be remembered that fertilizers must be applied before the onset of frost.
Attention! Organic components, especially chicken droppings and manure, cannot be used as top dressing. Organic matter promotes the development of decay and increases the risk of pest attacks.
Shelter of irises for the winter
For plants to have a successful winter, you need to take into account some rules and recommendations:
- Frost resistant varieties do not need complete frost cover.
- If the flowers were planted or transplanted in this season, then they must be covered with special material.
- The earth around the flowers is mulched. Peat and humus are chosen as mulch. The mulch layer should be at least 20 cm.
- A flowerbed where flowers grow can be covered with dry spruce or pine branches.
Council. Do not mulch the ground with straw or foliage. In the spring, during the melting of the snow, the layer begins to grow, as a result, the risk of developing fungal diseases increases.
Features of the shelter of irises in different regions
The quality and thickness of the covering material will differ from the region in which the flowers are grown:
- Frost-resistant varieties do not need complete cover. They tolerate low temperatures well, and it is enough to insulate only the root system. Only transplanted irises require complete insulation.
- Iris varieties that are not frost-resistant should be completely covered for the winter. The procedure begins in late autumn, before the start of frost.
The soil is mulched with a thick layer of peat or spruce branches. The use of dry foliage and sawdust is undesirable. In March, a layer of mulch is removed from each root to prevent rotting.
Middle zone of Russia
The middle zone of Russia is characterized by cold winters. In addition, not always enough snow falls.
Moscow suburbs
Cutting off the leaves of irises begins 2.5 weeks before the onset of frost. Pine branches or spruces are used to shelter irises in the Moscow region. As soon as the air temperature drops below -1 degrees, the roots of the irises are covered with dry soil. After the ground begins to freeze, spruce branches are laid.
Leningrad region
The weather in winter in the Leningrad region is characterized by sharp temperature drops, strong winds and lack of snow. Therefore, the material for the shelter is chosen dense. The soil is pre-mulched.
Siberia and the Urals
In cold regions, even frost-resistant varieties of flowers need a thick layer of mulch. It must be dry inside the shelter, so any material is additionally covered with a wooden box or bucket on top. The snow that falls on the box or bucket provides additional protection from the cold.
Features of pruning of some varieties
Individual iris varieties should be prepared for winter in different ways:
- in rhizome irises, dry and wilted leaves are removed only if necessary;
- in exotic varieties of irises, the foliage should be removed in half and only at the end of August;
- bulbous varieties require complete cutting of foliage and tops before winter.
If you take proper care of irises, prepare them for winter in time, then in summer you can enjoy the lush and long flowering of the plant.
