Too late to move Irises?

9 years ago

I was waiting for some construction to finish but now it may be too late to move them. What is worse, I have to move them for the second phase of construction or lose them.

What if I move them now? What if I moved a large clump, dirt and all? Can I take them out now and plant them in the spring or next fall?

Zone 4

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Comments (7)

southerngardening24
9 years ago
I thought now that it has cooled off it is the best time to move plants but I am in zone 7b so it might be different for you.
aachenelf z5 Mpls
9 years ago
Those do not look like any iris I've ever seen before. Are you sure those aren't daylilies? If they are an iris, what kind are they?
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emerogork
Original Author
9 years ago
Oops, I grabbed the wrong pic.... )-:

Is this any better?
It is from back in May but shows the extent of the move.

There are German Irises immediately our of the pic.
Same questions apply.
mnwsgal
9 years ago
I divided and moved iris last week. The stated best time here is August so it is late for this zone but I had originally gotten most of these iris several years ago at a Sept. plant swap and they did fine planted then. They may not flower next spring with a late move but that might have more to do with being recently divided and smaller rhizomes. Some might flower anyway. In z:4 it is suggested that late planted iris be covered with straw after the ground is frozen and straw be removed in April with new growth.

That said, last time one rhizome was lost amongst the other foliage and left unplanted and uncovered over the winter. I only noticed it the next spring because it was blooming.
sherrygirl zone5 N il
9 years ago
Emerogork, i have moved irises from spring through late fall and havent lost any. I agree with a previous poster they may not bloom next season, but that is better than losing them entirely. My apologies for the hosta forums snarkiness yesterday. I read and post there, its usually friendly.

Sherry
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
there is an iris forum ... i have never seen many of those peeps here ... but watch zone info .. a lot of the hardcore are in warmer climes ...

never know where you will find the best info

next to yoru name above.. it says NONE ... if you go to your members page.. you can change that to zone and big city ... it will help us to remember.. where you are ... sometimes it matters ...

for me.. ground heave in late winter.. in MI ... would be the issue ...

ken
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
9 years ago
Here, winter moisture management is the issue. I don't think I've had a single tuberous iris survive planting after the end of August. They just don't have the root system necessary to wick the water away.

Dealing with potential frost heave is easy. Just put a fairly large stone or brick over the rhizome.