Growing iris in open ground on a personal plot: characteristics of the variety. Spring protection of garden plants from pests and diseases

Bearded iris

Surely in every garden there is an area that is poorly supplied with water - the most appropriate place for planting bearded iris.

First among the best

Just do not confuse the bearded iris with the Siberian iris, which, on the contrary, loves a lot of water, so it grows well on the banks of reservoirs.

Bearded iris is a real find for a bright, fragrant flower garden. Moreover, I will cover and color scheme His “suit” can be the envy of anyone garden flower. All colors of the spectrum are subject to him - from red to purple, and in addition - flounces, fringe, ruffles, lace. A strong aroma with many nuances will delight any scent connoisseur.

Landing, choosing a seat

Bearded iris - planting, choosing a location

It looks like a dandy, but in reality it is an ascetic, it is not picky about watering, it can grow on any poor, sandy soil. He is clearly up to the role of “first violin” in our extreme flower garden.

Of course, if we create favorable conditions during landing:

Sunny place. Leave shady and semi-shaded places for other plants. Only in the sun can the bearded iris show all the luxury of its flowering. Tall bearded blue irises look very impressive; a separate article on our website is devoted to them.
Shallow planting of rhizomes. Plant as shallow as you can. Lower the roots into the hole, and the rhizome should only be slightly pressed into the ground, so that its “back” is on the surface of the earth. And the spatial orientation of the iris division should provide maximum illumination of this very “back”. Therefore, it is best to place the fan of leaves in the northern sector of the hole. Thanks to this, the rhizomes heated by the sun's rays will lay many flower buds. And they are afraid of rot, which can affect the rhizome when there is excess moisture (prolonged rains, damp area, heavy clay soil). sun rays. Sun - best medicine for iris.

The best fertilizer is wood ash.

The iris also has a “gastronomic” predilection, which also helps it from diseases, promotes abundant flowering and powerful development. This - wood ash. If you regularly add ash, there will be no problems with irises. Don’t be intimidated by the term “introducing ash.” We are talking about simply scattering ash over the garden bed. Be sure to sprinkle on the leaves, growing point, rhizome and around. Lightweight and quick procedure won't take much time. I pour ash into a small plastic bottle. It is very convenient to work with - even your hands remain clean. There is no need to incorporate ash into the soil. A little rain or shallow, not too abundant watering will deliver healing “seasoning” to the roots. And after 2-3 weeks, when all the ash has disappeared from the garden bed, we take up the bottle again.

Watering

Although the iris is a dry plant, it still needs rare watering. For example, it is enough to water well in May (if the weather is dry), during the growth of shoots and buds - until the end of flowering. Try not to pour on the buds. You cannot do without watering during the rooting of newly planted cuttings - in July-August - in small portions on dry soil until new leaves begin to grow. The rest of the time, they water superficially only during severe and prolonged drought.

Lucky companions

Bearded iris - a bright spot in your flowerbed

Many ornamental shrubs - lilac, mock orange, spirea - tolerate infrequent watering. Therefore, these shrubs always go well with irises. You can create a very cozy decorative corner from spireas, because they are so different - high and low; white, pink, purple; with foliage of various shapes and colors. Even if you plant just one bush of the low spirea Goldflame, a bright spot in the garden is guaranteed. After all, its foliage is brightly colored for most of the growing season (spring and autumn) - from yellow-orange to purple. “At the feet” of irises and shrubs you can “throw” low-growing dried flowers - sedums and young ones. The choice of color and habit of these perennials will allow you to create an interesting composition. For any corner of the garden, even the driest one, you can select “tenants” who will be happy to have their place in the flower garden and will meet the gardener’s expectations with a generous palette and fragrance.

Irises are distinguished by excellent vitality, get along well with many plants, multiply quickly and delight us with their fancy flowering in mid-May.

But even such unpretentious flowers as irises have their own characteristics in growing.

Features of care and planting of irises

The abundant flowering of irises largely depends on the location. Plants grow well in sunny open places, in partial shade and even in shady areas of the garden, but you won’t expect flowering in the shade, so in order to please yourself with the beauty of blooming irises, you need to provide the plants with good lighting.

Another rule that needs to be remembered when planting irises is that the flowers do not tolerate wetlands. The soil should dry out thoroughly. High humidity leads to rotting of the roots and buds of the iris.

Therefore, choose well-drained places, hills, open space. At high humidity there is a risk of developing bacterial or fungal rot and pests such as iris flowerpot and slugs.

Iris flower lady causes great damage to blooms bearded irises. During flight (the beginning of chestnut flowering), the female lays eggs in the buds, from which larvae mature in a couple of weeks. They feed on juice, hence the buds become soft, watery and do not produce a full-fledged flower.

Upon closer inspection, you can see small punctures in the petals.

And when pressed with your fingers, liquid flows out of the bud.

All damaged buds must be plucked and destroyed. During the period when the shoots appear, for prevention I dust them with ash, tobacco dust, pepper, mustard or lime, spray them soap solution with the addition of alcohol or ammonia, I make infusions of celandine, tansy, burdock, aloe, and wormwood. All bitter herbs are suitable. The main thing is to actively carry out all kinds of activities during budding to scare the pest away from the plant. In the literature, various systemic insecticides are recommended for growing irises and protecting them: Aktar, Confidor, Mosplan, but on my site I do not use pesticides, I prefer only natural remedies. These same measures repel cutworms, aphids and slugs that feed on the leaves and flowers of the plant.

It is also enough to plant irises in a sunny place to get rid of slugs and rot, since good drying of the soil is a prevention against these troubles.

Irises are quite drought-resistant. However, they require moderate watering, especially during the flowering period.

Soils prefer light, structured, sandy loam and loam, although sometimes they can tolerate any. They respond well to the application of mature compost in early spring and autumn. Nitrogen fertilizers should be applied in small doses, since bearded irises do not have highly developed leaf apparatus, but acidification of the soil from excess nitrogenous substances can also adversely affect plant development. It wouldn’t hurt to apply a one-time complex mineral fertilizer during flowering, for example, kemira flower.

Growing irises

Irises are propagated by dividing the root or sowing seeds. Seed pods appear on pollinated flowers, which can be picked by the end of August and planted before winter.

It is better to collect the seeds of bearded irises when they are slightly unripe (the shell of the capsule becomes soft and light green), then the germination percentage increases. Seedlings will bloom only in the 3rd year. Propagation by seeds makes sense only during breeding work, since irises grown from seeds of natural pollination do not always have the same characteristics as the mother plant.

It is easier to propagate by division, which should be done two weeks after flowering and until September.

The overgrown iris rhizome can be divided without digging.

It is enough to separate part of the root with shoots with a shovel and replant it in the desired place. This is, so to speak, a crude method of plant propagation that does not require specific knowledge and skills.

Division can also be done by digging out the entire rhizome from the ground. I prefer to dig because first of all it gives me the opportunity to work compost into the soil in that area. A plant dug up and cleared of soil allows us to examine it in more detail, remove damaged areas, and divide the rhizome into smaller shoots, which increases the amount of planting material. We divide the large root of the bearded iris according to the “cut at the neck” principle, that is, it has round large sections of the “head”, which are connected to each other by thin short bridges “necks”. So you need to cut precisely along these thin areas.

It happens that two or three sprouts grow on one head at once.

You can leave them, then the iris will grow as a bush.

If the root system is developed, then you can divide these shoots by chopping off a piece of rhizome with roots for each division.

If the long roots are not enough, then there is no need to divide the head. When dividing a bearded iris bush, we shorten the leaves to avoid excess moisture loss during the plant’s establishment.

Plant at a distance of at least 10 cm, forming small mounds for the roots in several rows.

Iris plantings are arranged in different ways. Can be planted in wide or narrow stripes as the outer frame of a flower garden. Interesting solution will make a figure of irises or plant them in separate areas in the form of color spots.

Bearded irises are ideal for flower gardens and mixborders.

It is also possible to plant irises in a continuous flower carpet as a decoration for tree trunks or decorative bushes. Plantings of irises are diversified by inclusions of bulbous ones, such as tulips, which bloom almost at the same time as early flowering varieties. Irises look spectacular against the background of blooming peonies.

Often the plants are combined with daylilies and lilies, which immediately begin to bloom after the irises have faded. The agricultural technology of these plants is the same, so they get along well with one another.

Growing bearded irises will bring you a lot of pleasure with its simplicity and excellent results. Breeders have bred many varieties different varieties who will become worthy decoration your garden.

Bearded iris(Iris) is a beautifully flowering perennial plant from the iris family (Iridaceae)

Nature has gifted us with all the colors of the rainbow - pink and crimson, lemon and orange-yellow, cherry and lilac, snow-white and sky blue. Maybe that’s why the ancient Greeks named it after the goddess of the rainbow, Iris. Irises are plants where you can admire one flower!

Exists classification varieties of bearded irises in height:

Short - height 25-36 cm

Medium height – 37-70 cm

Tall - more than 70 cm high

During severe frosts, the rhizomes can either die completely (a rather rare occurrence), or the upper part, located close to the surface of the earth, freezes. This characteristic feature bearded irises - the emergence of rhizomes to the soil surface. No matter how much you cover them with soil, after a while the rhizomes still stand “naked.” In autumn, it is recommended to mulch irises with a small layer of soil or peat.

A clump of irises grows sideways up to 10 cm per year (depending on the variety). If several varieties grow nearby, then after 5 years you can easily confuse the varieties, the rhizomes will close together.

I have repeatedly noticed in my garden in the spring how the upper tiers of rhizomes on old bushes look lifeless. However, after 2 - 3 weeks, the bushes grow new roots, leaves appear and abundant flowering. Irises are resistant to late spring frosts and can withstand temperatures down to -7 degrees C.

Varieties are divided by flowering time:

Early - bloom in mid-May and bloom until the end of May

Mid-early - bloom at the very end of May and finish flowering in the first ten days of June

Medium and mid-late - bloom throughout June

Late - bloom in early July

Some varieties of foreign selection do not bloom every year in our climatic conditions. The flower bud of irises is formed in the summer of the previous year at a certain amount of positive temperatures. And if the summer was cool, which means the irises did not have enough warmth, then the mid-late and late varieties may not bloom.

In the garden, irises bloom just after the flowering of daffodils and tulips, but before the flowering of peonies, lilies, and phlox.

Location

They are photophilous, grow well in sunny places, and tolerate light partial shade from sparsely standing trees. They do not bloom in dense shade, although the foliage develops. The site should be protected from strong winds; it is good if the sun hits in the first half of the day. Irises cannot tolerate excessive moisture and rot. But during the flowering period they like watering.

Reproduction

Propagated vegetatively, dividing rhizomes into links. If you use a knife, then it must be constantly disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate (15 g per 10 liters of water).

Breaking the rhizomes into links

I prefer to break the rhizomes and sprinkle the broken areas with charcoal. A plot can consist of 1 to 3 fused annual links. If there are living buds on the old links, then they can also be used for propagation. Pieces of rhizomes are planted in washed soil with sand to a depth of 2-3 cm.

Cut the fan at an angle of 45 degrees

The iris is covered with DRY sand or peat, sawdust or moss, wrapped in newspaper and placed in a plastic bag with holes for ventilation. The bag is placed on the refrigerator door and checked periodically to ensure it does not rot. If there are signs of rot, then wash it with water and treat it with a solution of one of the drugs: potassium permanganate, Maxim or Vitaros. Then they are washed with water, dried and stored again.

Landing

The best soils light loams are suitable for bearded irises, although they also grow on clay soils. Heavy soils can be improved by adding peat and sand. Acidic soils are neutralized with lime.

Before planting irises, the area should be dug up with a spade, carefully removing the weeds. When preparing the soil, it is good to add rotted soil to a depth of 20 cm, without mixing it with the soil. The rhizome should not touch the manure, otherwise the irises will get sick, and the suction roots will reach it during the growth process.

When to plant bearded iris?

The best time to plant bearded irises is immediately after flowering. At this time, the root system grows well, which means the survival rate increases. But since flowering times differ for different groups of irises, planting may be different time. In any case, planting must be completed before September 15–20, otherwise the irises may not have time to take root.

If you bought an iris in winter or spring, then you can plant it as soon as the snow melts and the soil can be dug. Bearded iris is not afraid of return frosts. If the soil is very cold, you can water it before planting. hot water or use soil that has been stored in room temperature. After planting, I recommend covering the plants with a piece of lutrasil for 10-14 days so that they take root faster.

Bearded irises are propagated only by rhizomes, since varietal properties are not preserved during seed propagation.

Sprinkle the sections with ash (charcoal)

Straightening the roots

Rhizome at soil level

A planting section for a bearded iris should have at least one formed rhizome link. It should be healthy, strong, elastic, and uniformly light in color when cut. In an iris division, the leaves are shortened by 2/3 and the roots by 1/3. First, a mound of earth is poured onto the bottom of the hole, sand is sprinkled on top of it, and the roots are spread evenly along its slopes, covered with soil and pressed tightly with your hands. The rhizome should be located at soil level and should not be buried. For the winter, the newly planted clumps are sprinkled with peat.

The distance between plants should be 35-40 cm. Irises grow in one place for about 3-4 years, then they need to be divided. When planting, the roots should be almost horizontal and the leaves should be slightly inclined.

Care

Caring for bearded irises involves periodically loosening the soil, weeding and fertilizing.

In early spring, after the snow has melted, if the irises have been mulched, you should stir the shelter a little to allow air to enter and the rhizomes to open. You need to loosen it very carefully, since the roots of bearded irises are almost on the surface of the soil.

In dry weather, irises are watered, especially during the flowering period. During this period, make sure that faded flowers do not fall on the leaves, as the leaves may rot.

Feeding irises 3 times per season.

The first feeding after removing the cover or mulch is 20 g of ammonium nitrate and 20 g of potassium sulfate

Second feeding in June - 25 g nitrogen and 25 g potassium

Third feeding in July - 50 g of superphosphate and 25 g of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water

When the leaves begin to brown, with the onset of frost, they are cut off by 1/3. In new and rare varieties, the rhizomes are covered with spruce branches or lutrasil.

Pests and diseases

Early in the spring, irises can be attacked by the cutworm butterfly caterpillar, which gnaws leaves and flower stalks, especially if the spring is dry.

It happens that thrips nest in the axils of leaves. Can be used as a spray of karbofos (20-40 g per 10 liters of water).

In the second half of summer, slugs appear and eat the leaves. In this case, the soil around the plants is sprinkled with superphosphate.

When the weather is warm, humid, irises can be affected by bacterial rot of the rhizomes. In case of damage, the dying areas should be cut out to healthy tissue, and the sections should be treated with potassium permanganate and sprinkled with charcoal. The rot pathogen dies in the sun, so the cut is dried in direct sunlight.

It happens that at the end of summer the leaves of irises become covered with rusty brown spots. Such leaves should be cut off and burned.

Use in the garden

The high decorative value of bearded irises and their original foliage, which lasts until autumn, allow them to be used in mixborders, as a tapeworm, and in groups on the lawn in combination with other perennials, both in and near ponds.

Currently, about 30 thousand varieties of hybrid garden iris have been bred. They are distinguished by the timing of flowering, the color and shape of the inflorescences, and the height of the peduncle. Based on the color of the flowers, irises are divided into one-color, two-color - with different colors the upper and lower lobes of the perianth, plicata - with color in the form of strokes along the edges, iridescent, in which the color smoothly transitions from one tonality to another.

Based on the height of the flower stalks, irises are divided into 3 groups:

Short or dwarfs - up to 37 cm

Medium height – 37 – 70 cm

Tall varieties - more than 70 cm, excellent for cutting

Video on how to plant irises correctly? Why don't irises bloom?

Many people consider them rustic, but in fact the bearded iris flower is very multifaceted - a magnificent collection of bearded irises will simply transform a summer flower garden in any area, making it unique and colorful. Thanks to the huge number garden varieties of this plant, everyone will be able to choose for themselves the flower that will ideally suit the purpose.

In this article, we will look at the features of growing bearded iris - the most popular species among gardeners, we will give a description of the varieties of this flower, and also note the basic rules on how to plant bearded iris and how to care for it.

Botanical description and features of bearded iris

Bearded iris is a perennial rhizomatous plant that belongs to the Iridaceae or Iridaceae family. These bright and unusual flowers can be found on almost all continents, so without false modesty, the bearded iris should be called an international flower. It's so unique flowers that it is difficult to even convey their beauty and main features. Bearded irises in nature can easily interbreed with each other and thereby create new vibrant varieties. It was this feature that attracted breeders from all over the world and made it possible to breed several tens of thousands different varieties bearded iris.

There are a large number of legends associated with the appearance of this flower on earth and the origin of its name. Iris is translated from Latin as “rainbow”. This was the name of the ancient Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris, who was the link between the gods and people. She personified a beautiful and fragile girl with two delicate wings behind her back, ready to fly into the skies at the slightest call, sparkling with all the shades of the rainbow. In honor of this goddess, the irises flowers were named, which, like the smallest fragments of a rainbow, decorate fields and meadows. There is another legend about the appearance of this beautiful flower. She takes us back to the times of the reign of the gods and the appearance of Prometheus. At the moment when Prometheus gave fire to people, a rainbow flashed in the sky, which gave people light and joy all day, all evening and all night. This is how nature expressed its jubilation. And when the sun rose in the morning, there was no rainbow in the sky, but the whole earth was strewn with bright irises, which resembled fragments of a multi-colored rainbow.

The first mention of iris flowers was recorded 2000 years ago. The painted flower was discovered by archaeologists in the palace of Minos, and many years later the iris became a sacred and revered flower on the island of Cyprus. Now the bearded iris flower is a favorite flower not only of numerous breeders, for whom working with it is a pleasure, but also of millions of gardeners who appreciate its beauty and unpretentiousness.

Description of bearded iris:

Bearded iris is a perennial rhizomatous plant that is widespread throughout the world.
Today there is a rather complex classification of iris species, which is difficult for the average gardener to understand. Therefore, fans of this extraordinary flower group all varieties very simply: bearded and non-bearded. Bearded irises are the most popular variety, attracting gardeners with their bright colors and interesting shape of inflorescences.
The root system of bearded irises is superficial, sometimes emerging from the ground. It has many small thread-like roots. By appearance has several annual seals that spread and allow the plant to grow.
Every spring, an annual peduncle grows from the rhizome, on which flowers subsequently bloom.
The leaves of the bearded iris are long and flat, their shape can be sword-shaped or linear, very thin, covered with a waxy coating.
The leaves are arranged in two-row fan-shaped bunches at the very base of the peduncle. These are basal leaves. The stem leaves are small and there are very few of them.
The leaf color is light green.
By height, bearded plants are divided into several groups: dwarf - up to 35 cm high, intermedia - 40-75 cm high and tall bearded irises - up to 2 m high.
The main decoration of the bearded iris is its flowers, which amaze with their variety of shades and intricate shapes.
The flower consists of 6 petals, which are arranged in two tiers. Three of them rise up with a dome, and the other three are slightly lowered and bent down. The colors of the petals are often multi-colored: red-orange-yellow, blue-blue, purple-blue with white. Among all the variety of shades, there is not only pure red.
The name of the bearded iris variety comes from the small beard on the bent petals, which consists of small woolly hairs, often of a contrasting shade. Hence the name of this variety.
Bearded iris flowers can be single or collected in small inflorescences. A large bush can have about 10 flowers on one peduncle.
Flowering begins around the end of May or early June. One flower can bloom for 3-5 days.
Some varieties have a pleasant aroma, so they are often grown in industrial purposes to obtain essences for cosmetology.
After the flowers fade, fruits appear on the plant in the form of a three-lobed capsule.

Variety of bearded iris varieties

Irises have long been considered one of the most popular garden flowers, the variety of colors and shapes of which is simply amazing. The most popular are rightfully bearded irises, a group of which includes approximately 35,000 different varieties that differ in height, shape and size of inflorescences, and color. Today there is a very complex classification of types and varieties of irises, which is quite difficult for ordinary gardeners to understand. Many still spread it over the beard on the petals. Let's look at the description of the best bearded irises.

Beverly Hills variety. This is a tall bearded iris, the height of the peduncle can reach approximately 90 cm. The leaves of this flower are long and narrow, have a bright green tint. The bearded iris bush grows quickly. The flower is medium in size, its shade is coral pink with a reddish lace beard. The Beverly Hills variety begins flowering in early July.

Variety of bearded iris "Burgomaster". Another tall variety, the peduncle of which can reach a height of about 80 cm. The flower is medium in size, the petals along the edge are orange-violet, the inside is dark purple. Inside the flower, the petals are slightly yellowish in color with a pinkish tint.
Variety "Batik". This variety of bearded iris can reach approximately 70-80 cm in height. The leaves are narrow and do not lose their bright green color until the end of summer. The flowers are quite large, up to 16-16 cm each. From the name of the variety it is clear that the color of the petals will be in the known artistic technique batik. Flower violet shade with a lot of white veins.

Variety "Summer Night". A beautiful, tall variety of bearded iris, which can reach a height of 80-90 cm. The flowers are medium-sized, bright purple with a yellow core. This variety of iris begins to bloom in early or mid-July. The flowers have a distinct aroma.
Variety of bearded iris “Starfall”. A tall variety of bearded iris, which can reach a height of 75-80 cm. The flowers are medium in size, their shade is light yellow with a bright orange beard.
Variety of bearded iris "Arkady Raikin". A tall iris with a bright, beautiful hue. The flowers are medium in size, the petals are pink-red in color with a contrasting orange beard. The flowers have a strong aroma.

Variety of bearded iris “Abkhazia”. These are medium-sized flowers that bloom late. The flowers are large, brownish-violet in color. The petals are strongly wavy along the edges and have many folds, making the flower appear fringed.
Variety of bearded iris “Gvardeisky”. This variety of bearded iris is considered one of the tallest and most fragrant, which will be an excellent decoration for any site. The flowers are large, reaching a diameter of about 15 cm, and have bright yellow petals.
Bearded iris variety "Elbrus Diamond". This variety of iris is also very popular among gardeners. A tall plant that can reach approximately 80-90 cm. The flowers are massive, white in color with a bright orange-yellow core and veins on the petals.
Variety "Carribian Dream". A medium-sized variety of bearded iris, which has a delicate vanilla aroma. The flowers are large and have bright blue petals.

Bearded iris variety 'Crown Heads'. This variety of iris is a real miracle of selection. The plants are of medium height, the middle of the flowers has a bright violet-blue hue, the outer petals are silver-blue. The flower has a wonderful aroma.
Variety "Afternoon in Rio". Beautiful variety bearded iris in bright purple tones. The petals of the flower are bright purple with a lacy wavy edge. The beard has a golden color.
Variety "Nain Lives". Dwarf variety bearded iris, which can reach a height of about 25-35 cm. The central petals are creamy, the outer petals are dark red-burgundy with a wide light pink border and a central golden spot.

Propagation of bearded iris: common methods

More often planting material Bearded irises are purchased from specialized stores. However, if a beautiful bush of this plant still grows on your site bright flower, you can try to breed a lot of additional young plants. Several methods are suitable for this: seed propagation, vegetative propagation- dividing the rhizome, using the bud method. Let us consider in more detail the main nuances of each method of reproduction.

Seed propagation of bearded iris

Seed propagation is used extremely rarely, since in the process the plant completely loses its maternal characteristics.
First of all, you need to collect the seeds in the fall, and then decide on the sowing time.
To do this, seeds can be sown in autumn or spring. However, when spring planting seeds must undergo a stratification process.
The seeds must first be soaked and then dried. Next, they are mixed with clean coarse sand and placed in a container, after which they are placed in the refrigerator.
If you decide to sow directly immediately after collecting the seeds, be sure to prepare the soil in advance, dig it up and loosen it.
After this, place the seeds in the soil to a depth of approximately 1.5-2 cm.
Shoots will appear in the spring, but most of them emerge only in the second year after planting.

Propagation of bearded iris by dividing the rhizome

This propagation method is considered the most popular and frequently used, since every three years bearded iris bushes still need to be replanted due to loss of decorativeness.
You can begin the method of propagation by dividing the rhizome at the end of the iris' summer dormancy.
To do this, you can dig up the bush completely or separate sections immediately from the bush growing in the flowerbed.
The dug up rhizome must be washed under water and then divided into required amount division in such a way that each side has several healthy buds, a sufficient number of roots and a fan of leaves consisting of 5-7 leaves.
The fan of leaves is shortened to about 15 cm, the roots also need to be trimmed to 10-15 cm.
After this, the divisions are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate, after which they must be allowed to dry in the sun.
The delenki are planted in a permanent place.
Irises planted using cuttings can bloom as early as next year.

Propagation of bearded iris by bud method

Sometimes gardeners resort to the bud method of propagating bearded irises. This is especially true in cases where there is an urgent need to breed rare varieties of bearded iris.
Each rhizome has axillary buds in the form of small tubercles.
It is necessary to cut the rhizome into several links with buds or cut out a bud with a knife.
After this, the resulting buds must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or other disinfectant and plant in containers or boxes for growing.
In this way you can get a large number of young plants at once.

Preparation before planting bearded iris

Bearded iris is one of the most popular flowers among gardeners, as this beautiful plant contains the beauty and brightness of its inflorescences and its ease of cultivation. However, like any other crop, bearded iris requires careful attention before planting. preparatory work, which consists of purchasing high-quality and healthy planting material and choosing the ideal place for planting on your site. Only after this you will get a beautiful and abundantly flowering plant.

Stage 1. Selecting varieties and seedlings of bearded iris

First of all, you need to decide on the choice of a specific variety of bearded iris. This is not easy to do, since today there are more than 35,000 varieties of this beautiful view plants.
Choose a variety of bearded iris depending on the planting location. Tall varieties can be purchased for the central part of the flower bed, and shorter varieties will look ideal as a border plant.
You should only buy iris cuttings in a specialized store or garden center; this is the only way to be sure of the quality of the purchased material. You can also take iris cuttings from friends at the moment when the bearded iris is being transplanted.
In stores, delenki are most often sold in transparent bags with filler, for example, sawdust.
Carefully inspect the division; it is better to choose large and healthy divisions that will take root and bloom faster.
The purchased division must have at least one link with buds and roots. The rhizome itself should be dense and elastic, without signs of rotting or softening. Yellowish spots should be clearly visible on it - signs of the appearance of future roots.
Delenka can be purchased at any time of the year, as this planting material is not afraid of drying out. The main thing is not to store it in a bag.

Stage 2. Choosing a place to plant bearded iris

Bearded iris is considered unpretentious culture and does not require creation special conditions for growing, but for getting bright blooming flower It is important to choose the right place.
Bearded iris will grow well only in a sunny area; only slight shading is allowed in the afternoon.
You should not plant irises in the shade of trees or shrubs, as the rhizome of this plant does not tolerate any shade.
The place you choose should be protected from drafts and strong winds, as a strong gust can simply break the delicate flowers of the bearded iris.
It is best to plant irises on an inclined plane, as these flowers do not like stagnant moisture at the rhizome.

Stage 3. Selection and preparation of soil for bearded iris

To plant irises, it is important to find an area with a neutral or slightly acidic soil reaction. If there is none, then if the soil is strongly acidic, you can add lime, and if the soil is severe, peat and sand can be added.
The soil should be light and breathable; even rocky soil will do.
Bearded irises should not be planted on clay soils that retain moisture.
There should not be a large number of weeds on the soil, which can become carriers of diseases. A large number of organics are also very bad for flowers.
Before planting, carefully dig up the selected area and loosen the area well.

Planting bearded iris - instructions

Bearded iris is planted in the fall, when the roots of the plant become hard and dense and do not break.
Next, in a place prepared in advance, dig the required number of holes for planting, the size of which will depend on the size of the cuttings.
It is important to put a good layer of drainage at the bottom of each, since this plant does not tolerate prolonged stagnation of moisture at the roots. For drainage, you can use small stones, expanded clay or coarse, clean sand.
Next, in the center of the hole you need to pour a small mound of soil and place a section of bearded iris on it, and distribute all the roots around it.
After this, you need to sprinkle the roots of the iris with soil, and the rhizome itself is lightly covered with a layer of clean sand about 1-2 cm.
If you plant cuttings in the fall, be sure to cover them with mulch to prevent them from freezing. At summer planting the plants will have time to take root.
After planting, the plants need to be watered.

Agricultural technology for growing bearded iris: secrets and nuances of care

Pretty bearded irises unpretentious plants However, despite this, they constantly need regular and close care, which should consist of basic actions familiar to every gardener. Proper care for bearded irises will ensure beautiful and bright flowering plants.

Watering. Bearded irises have the ability to accumulate moisture in their rhizomes, so they long time can do without watering. Applying water to the roots of these plants is only necessary in extreme heat and obvious drying of the soil. Young cuttings also need plenty of soil moisture.
Loosening and weeding. Irises also need regular loosening. however, it is important to remember here that the root system of this plant is superficial, and the tuber can generally be located on the surface. Therefore, you need to loosen it very carefully, trying not to damage the tuber, which will have difficulty recovering. It is important to constantly remove weeds that can become a source of disease.
Feeding. Bearded irises respond well to fertilizing, but it is necessary to choose fertilizers with a minimum nitrogen content, and also apply less organic matter. Usually the plant is fed three times per season. The first feeding is done in the spring before flowering begins - around the end of April. In this case, you can use sodium nitrate. The second feeding is carried out during the budding period, when ammonium sulfate can be used as a fertilizer. The third feeding is recommended two weeks after flowering. At this time, you can feed the irises with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
Transplanting irises. A few years after planting, the plant’s rhizome begins to grow, and the central part becomes lifeless. In this case, it is recommended to transplant the bearded iris, since the flower loses its decorative effect, the peduncles become shorter and the flowers become smaller. It is recommended to replant irises every 3-4 years. Dwarf forms of bearded iris can be replanted less frequently, as they can grow in one place for up to 10 years.
Trimming. After the iris has faded, its flower stalks must be cut off, and before the onset of winter, the leaves of the plant are also cut off at a height of 10-15 cm.
Shelter for the winter. Russian varieties of bearded iris can overwinter without shelter. however, more delicate imported varieties are still worth covering. To do this, the soil is mounded with peat and covered with fallen leaves, preferably oak leaves, since rodents do not live in it. After this, the plants are covered with spruce branches.

Bearded irises - photo

Bearded irises are the most popular members of their family and have long been favorites of many gardeners. These luxurious flowers bright colors can replace a whole flower bed of other flowering plants, and will not require additional effort or expense from you.