"Gwen Morse" wrote in message
...
I have some german bearded irises growing around my mailbox.

There's a section of about 2'x2' surrounded by railroad ties. In there
is the post to the mailbox, and the rhizomes from the irises. The dirt
is completely filled in with iris rhizomes (they've been growing there
something like 8 years).

I used to get many stalks of iris blooms, but, in the past two years
I've only gotten one "stem" of blooms per season. I think it might be
that they're too crowded.

Is there anything special I should do to separate them? Just dig out
"all" of them except one or two rhizomes? Should I leave a clump and
then free a section of a certain size, so, I effectively 'patchwork'
in blank areas?

What I'd like to do is remove the least amount of rhizomes for the
most amount of blooming return next year. If that's all of them, then,
that's fine, but, I don't want to pull out all of them unless that's
really the best choice.

Second to that, I have a new lot of mixed (by color) iris rhizomes
that I bought. How far apart should I plant them in a long thin bed
that will still leave room for other small flowers in between (I have
some snowdrops and grecian windflowers, and other 'small' bulbs that
grow into small plants)?

Gwen

I tend to agree with Sugar Chile with total removal and refurbishing the
bed. But to ensure you get bloom next year, besides planting the largest
rhizome, I'd make sure the largest in the bed isn't disturbed and has soil
intact around the roots. Sometimes irises will actually quit blooming
because their rhizomes are covered up. All leaf and no flower. They like to
sit on top of the soil more.

If you do lift them all and plant the largest, be prepared to have them not
bloom the first year you divide them. I've lifted irises that were very old
with a clump of dirt attached and they didn't know they were moved and
bloomed and the ones I did lose all soil from took two years to
re-establish. But then, that's just me.............

And I have to agree with Vox on the soldier thing. Single stands of anything
is sad. I'd plant them in groups, same as you'd plant bulbs of daffs or such
in 5's 7's or more. spaced apart but still in groups. Of course I'm also
the one who has no spaces between her plants in her constipated fairy beds.,
too.......g
madgardener who moved all the old bearded irises from the old farmhouse when
she moved.