The eye-catching flowers of the iris sometimes seem a bit exotic, although various species of the ornamental plant, also known as iris, originally come from Central European natural areas. If the iris does not grow in a planter exposed to the cold, but is in an open-air bed, it can usually be overwintered outdoors without any problems in this country.
Are Iris plants hardy?
Most iris species are hardy and can easily overwinter outdoors as long as they are in a sunny location without waterlogging and wilted leaves are cut off in autumn. Protect plants from rot by not covering the soil with mulch.
Properly care for the irises in autumn
So that your iris gets through the winter well and can recharge its batteries for the next flowering period, you should give it the right care in autumn. Basically, irises are undemanding in the garden if they are in a sunny location. However, you should cut off completely wilted leaves in autumn to prevent them from rotting in winter.
Getting irises through the winter well
Green leaves of the iris with brown tips should be shortened by a maximum of half in a wedge shape in autumn, as these are necessary for the plant as an energy reserve for the next growing season. You should refrain from covering the ground around the plants with mulch to avoid promoting mold and pathogens on the plant material. If you want to divide your irises for propagation purposes, you should do so immediately after flowering. This means that the offshoots can still grow well in the new place before winter hits the garden with frost.
It depends on the location
For he althy growth, the iris not only needs a sunny location, but also loose soil without waterlogging. This is usually achieved through the following measures:
- Enriching the soil with seasoned compost
- Introduction of drainage made of sand or gravel
- carefully digging up the soil around the irises
On extremely hard ground, it is sometimes common to simply pile up soil when planting iris rhizomes. However, this has a negative effect on winter resistance and must be compensated for with foliage or other protective measures.
Tips & Tricks
Not all types of iris are hardy in this country. Therefore, when purchasing, pay close attention to the relevant information about the plant so that you can protect it or overwinter it in winter quarters if necessary.
