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What to do

darren hansen 134darren hansen 134 Posts: 122
in Plants
My bearded iris have finished..so now am wondering if I should cut back the spent stems

Posts

  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    Morning!
    I leave mine and cut them back in September...on a slant.  Someone who lives in your area may have another suggestion.
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • darren hansen 134darren hansen 134 Posts: 122
    I live in Cambridge England
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Just cut out the old flower stems at the base.  It'll make the plants look better and save any energy that might go into seed production by diverting it into better foliage and rhizomes for next year's flowers.

    As the plants mature they will start to have a dead centre where the older rhizomes cease flowering so you need to lift and divide the plants every 3 or 4 years and re-plant to maintain flowering vigour.  https://www.rhs.org.uk/videos/advice/dividing-iris 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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