Re: pruning CULT:
- To: i*@egroups.com
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] pruning CULT:
- From: i*@aol.com
- Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 05:04:29 EDT
In a message dated 4/23/2000 7:15:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
barnan78@aol.com writes:
<< Can you cut back iris to 6" after they bloom? Live in zone 7/8 Thanks >>
Good morning:
I remember my Grandmother's iris-growing technique... which was to have my
Grandfather run over the iris bed with the lawnmower right after they
finished blooming. Worked on those old types, but would NEVER fly on the
newer cultivars.
Healthy iris foliage should be left in place to nourish the rhizome and build
back the energy spent by the plant in producing those TDF blooms, and to
begin the process for next year. Since you're in zone 7/8, you might have
healthy foliage most of the year.
Here in Zone Abysmal (Buffalo, NY area - 5/6), we don't cut back the foliage
until after the first frost kicks the bejeebers out of them and they go
floppy. Then we cut each fan into a perky inverted "vee" to go into the
winter.
You'll notice I have consistently referred to "healthy" foliage. If you get
nailed by leaf spot or some such, you should cut back anything that is
diseased and destroy it.
And isn't this a great time to segue into my new favorite topic......
improving iris foliage! I love the looks of the blue-green spikes
punctuating the garden... but imagine if the foliage was VARIEGATED (some
is.... witness Canadian Streaker) or PURPLE (!!!). So now it's not just
form that's recommending it, but color and style as well.
So, the simple answer to your question is probably "no".
(:
Kathyguest....climbing back into the saddle in Buffalo, NY
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