Plant Doctor Archive

My irises are being eaten

I have quite a few irises which are the bearded type, but alas the cows got in and ate them approx. two thirds down, leaving a very even third of the foliage. The tubers are still in the ground. How will this affect the flowering next year, or can I say goodbye to them ever flowering again?

The cows have done you a favour. Bearded irises can be cut back by about a third once they have finished flowering — to tidy them up more than it being a necessity.

The important thing about the bearded iris is that the rhizome is not buried too deeply and it is sitting on the surface of the soil. The rhizome needs to be exposed to guarantee good flowering.

Advice by Dr Dan Blanchon from Unitec's Diploma in Sustainable Horticulture and Bachelor of Resource Management.

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