When to prune irises after flowering for the winter: terms and rules of care after the procedure

In order for irises to bloom all summer, you need to know when it is best to cut them off after flowering for the winter. Other tips for caring for these flowers will come in handy. If all agrotechnical measures are carried out correctly in the fall, then the irises will safely spend the winter in open beds. Detailed instructions with a description of each step will help to carry out the procedure without problems. In the future, it is necessary to provide plants with special care.

Should I prune irises before winter?

Irises are perennial ornamental plants. For the entire season of their growth and development, pruning is carried out several times:

in case the leaves turn yellow or spots appear on them;
after the end of the flowering period;
before frost;
some varieties of irises have additional pruning.

Irises should definitely be prepared for wintering. The leaves are cut first, and then the buds. Withered flowers and dried leaves take away excess nutrients and energy, become a source of infection, and pests take refuge in them.

When is the best time to prune?

Pruning is best done in autumn, after the plant has fully bloomed and the flowers and leaves have dried. Timing largely depends on the region in which the flowers are grown. In most cases, the time coincides with the middle of October.

Removal of leaves in autumn is carried out, observing a number of rules:

leaves are best cut in the form of a cone;
the height of the fan of leaves after cutting should be 15 cm from the ground;
leaves cut should be burned;
the roots are sprinkled with a layer of dry earth;
for the winter the plant is completely covered.

The green part of the plant does not need to be removed. Green leaves continue to nourish the root system of the flower, increasing resistance to frost and other adverse factors.

During flowering

When a flower enters the phase of active flowering, no action is recommended with it. It is better to prune only 3.5 weeks after the irises have faded. During this time, the plant will restore the forces that went into the formation of flower stalks. In addition, new root branches will begin to appear.The time coincides with the last days of August or the first days of September.

If it became necessary to prune flowers during flowering, then the procedure is carried out in compliance with some recommendations:

remove only those buds that have already faded;
important not to damage any unopened buds;
the stem is cut off after the buds wither, leaving a height of 3 cm from the root.

Attention! You can not cut the leaves on the days of active flowering or immediately after it. Actions will harm the development of the plant, and in some cases will cause its death.

After flowering

In early September, the flowering of irises completely ends. At this time, wilted flowers should be cut along with the stem and the seed pods should be cut off. The stems should be cut low - about 2.5 cm above the rhizome. If left uncut, they begin to rot.

After trimming the flowers and stems, the leaves can be left until they turn completely yellow. In most cases, removal is started only after they completely lie on the ground - in mid-October. Leave a fan of cut leaves 14 cm high.

When transplanting

If it is planned to transplant or reproduce a flower in the summer, then it is better to cut the foliage. Leave a fan of cut leaves with a height of 17 cm. The procedure will keep a sufficient amount of moisture and nutrients in the roots. As a result, the plant will take root faster on a new piece of land.

Pruning leaves is recommended four days before transplanting. The procedure itself is best done 14 days after the end of flowering. All actions are carried out in the evening, after sunset.

When seeds ripen

During the maturation of the seed box (ripening begins after the flower wilts), iris bushes also need to be pruned. Cut off all dried buds. If it is necessary to propagate a flower, then leave one.

Features of cutting different types of irises

The procedure is carried out with sharp garden tools:

Dried flowers can be pinched by hand.
Peduncles are cut to the very base.
The stem is cut off, leaving a height of 3.5 cm.
Dried foliage should protrude 14 cm above the soil surface.

Irises are divided into two main types, each of which requires a different approach during care.

Rhizome

Rhizome varieties of irises are undemanding to care for. Yellowed and dried leaves are removed as needed. If there are no special reasons, then autumn pruning may not be carried out.

Bulbs

Bulb varieties of irises require more attention. They differ in the presence of a rhizome in the form of an onion. After the flowering stage is over, the stems and leaves are cut, and then the bulb is dug up. The procedure is carried out carefully so as not to damage the roots.

In the future, the bulbs are dried and cleaned in a cool place, and in the fall they are planted again in flower beds. In the northern regions, it is better to plant the bulb in the spring so that it does not freeze during the winter.

Care for flowers after pruning: preparation for winter

After the completion of the flowering stage, irises need to be helped to accumulate strength and microelements for a successful winter. An important point in care is fertilization.

Feeding and watering

After flowering, the plant in the open field does not need frequent watering. If the weather is dry, then two waterings per autumn are enough. In rainy weather, there is no need for additional moisture.

The soil around each iris bush should be loosened to a depth of 2 cm and all weeds removed. The root branches of the plant are close to the surface of the earth, so the loosening procedure must be carried out carefully.

As a top dressing, it is better to choose potash-phosphorus fertilizers. They are applied 12 days before the pruning procedure and 14 days after. It should be remembered that fertilizers must be applied before the start of frost.

Attention! It is impossible to use organic components as top dressing, especially chicken droppings and manure. Organics promote decay and increase the risk of pest attack.

Shelter of irises for the winter

In order for plants to have a successful winter, you need to take into account some rules and recommendations:

Frost-tolerant varieties don't need full frost protection.
If the flowers were planted or transplanted in this season, then they must be covered with special material.
The earth around the flowers is mulched. Peat, humus are chosen as mulch. The layer of mulch should be at least 20 cm.
A flower bed where flowers grow can be covered with dry spruce or pine branches.

Advice. Do not mulch the ground with straw or foliage. In the spring, during the melting of snow, the layer begins to rot, as a result, the risk of developing fungal diseases increases.

Features of sheltering irises in different regions

The quality and thickness of the covering material will vary depending on the region where the flowers are grown:

Frost-resistant varieties do not need full cover. They tolerate low temperatures well, and it is enough to insulate only the root system. Full insulation is required only for transplanted irises.
Iris varieties that are not frost-resistant should be completely covered for the winter. The procedure begins at the end of autumn, before the start of frosts.

The soil is mulched with a thick layer of peat or spruce branches. It is undesirable to use dry foliage and sawdust. In March, a layer of mulch is removed from each root to prevent rotting.

Middle strip of Russia

Central Russia has cold winters. In addition, there is not always enough snow.

Moscow Region

Cut off the leaves of irises begin 2.5 weeks before the onset of frost. Pine branches or spruces are used to shelter irises in the Moscow region. As soon as the air temperature drops below -1 degrees, the roots of irises are covered with dry earth. Already after the ground begins to freeze, they lay spruce branches.

Leningrad Region

Winter weather in the Leningrad region is characterized by sudden temperature changes, strong winds and lack of snow. Therefore, the material for shelter is chosen dense. The soil is preliminarily mulched.

Siberia and Urals

In cold regions, even frost-resistant varieties of flowers need a thick layer of mulch. It must be dry inside the shelter, so any material is additionally covered with a wooden box or bucket on top. Fallen snow forms additional protection against the cold on a box or bucket.

Features of pruning of some varieties

Individual varieties of iris should be prepared for winter in different ways:

in rhizomatous irises, removal of dry and withered leaves is carried out only if necessary;
for exotic varieties of irises, you need to remove foliage by half and only at the end of August;
bulbous varieties need to be completely cut back before winter.

If you properly care for irises, prepare them for winter in time, then in summer you can enjoy the lush and long flowering of the plant.