iris, why cut leaves?
 

Why do we cut the leaves into a fan on iris when we dig and divide them?

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Delete the obvious to reply to me personally.
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On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 14:56:40 -0600, "Lobo"
wrote:

Why do we cut the leaves into a fan on iris when we dig and divide them?

It's done to neaten them up, no other reason.

"Bourne Identity" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 14:56:40 -0600, "Lobo"
wrote:

Why do we cut the leaves into a fan on iris when we dig and divide them?

It's done to neaten them up, no other reason.

I also do it to control iris leaf spot. When I'm cutting back the leaves, I
also clean up all the dead leaf debris and spent flower stems from and
around the iris.

JPS

On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 21:59:58 -0500, "B & J"
wrote:

"Bourne Identity" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 14:56:40 -0600, "Lobo"
wrote:

Why do we cut the leaves into a fan on iris when we dig and divide them?

It's done to neaten them up, no other reason.

I also do it to control iris leaf spot. When I'm cutting back the leaves, I
also clean up all the dead leaf debris and spent flower stems from and
around the iris.

JPS

I cut Irises back to a fan when Transplanting. This reduces the leaf
area so that the roots (disturbed) can feed the tops.

Derryl

Lobo wrote:

Why do we cut the leaves into a fan on iris when we dig and divide them?

The roots are damaged in the process of digging and dividing. I
cut the leaves to reduce the demand on the roots for moisture. For
the same reason, I reduce the number of leaves on a shoot when I
take cuttings of other plants.

Also, my iris leaves sometimes grow quite long. I trim them when
dividing to keep the replanted rhizomes from tipping over since the
reduced roots cannot hold such a large plant upright.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at URL:http://www.rossde.com/garden/