Home > Projects >

How to Divide Early Summer-Flowering Iris

You will need: Fork, Secateurs

There are two main reasons to divide early summer-flowering iris, like Iris germanica: either you want to make more plants and spread them around the garden or you notice that, as they spread, the middle of the clump dies off as it becomes congested. Dividing the clump gives the plants more room to grow and the old, unproductive centre can be discarded.

Best time to do it:

Step 1

Start by lifting the plants with a fork.

Step 2

Wash the roots so you can see where you are working, then identify where the clump can be separated. Each new plant needs a shoot and a portion of the rhizome (underground stem) complete with roots.

Step 3

In order to reduce the stress on the Iris when you plant it, reduce the leaves by two-thirds in a fan shape, using clean, sharp secateurs.

Step 4

Plant the new pieces of Iris with the rhizome on, or only just below, the surface of the soil. This is because the plant will not flower if the rhizome fails to get receive enough sunlight in summer. Water well to settle the plants into the soil again.

Related FAQs

Ask a gardening question:

Latest Gardening News

Flower bulbs: Plant them in time

Three Top New Flowers from T & M

Grab a Christmas Bargain

Candide Gardening App Closes

Gardening Projects for December

---

How to Make a Bird Feeder

How to Protect a Climber

How to Protect Containers

How to keep Containers Well-Drained

Latest Gardening Videos

---

Storing Dahlia and Begonia Tubers

Growing Vegetables in a Wheelbarrow

Top 50 Best Bad Gardening Jokes

Planting in Succession Continued

Growing Oriental Hellebores

Growing Brussels Sprouts

All Videos

Explore Gardens from Around the World

Humble Administrator's Garden
Suzhou, China

Aswan Botanical Garden
Aswan, Egypt

Keukenhof
Lisse, Netherlands

Medellin Botanical Garden
Medellin, Columbia

Dubai Miracle Garden
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Monet's Garden, Giverny
Giverny, France