Dividing Siberian Iris (Iris sibirica)

[@barryschade6753]

Rosanne, I enjoyed your video on dividing Siberian Iris. I wish I had taken a look at it before I divided a couple clumps this weekend, and gave parts away. Using a reciprocating saw is a marvelous idea.

[@RosannesGarden]

Hi Barry, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. In my experience, those Siberian Iris are the most difficult of any perennial that I have ever tried dividing (and I divide a lot). My husband suggested the reciprocating saw and the rest is history :-)

[@CountrysideLiving-net]

Rosanne, thank you for your great videos. They are so well done and very helpful! Your garden is so lovely!

[@RosannesGarden]

Thank you. That is very kind to say. I'm glad the videos were helpful!

[@arkay49er]

Great idea to use the cordless Sawzall saw! I've done a lot of division and never tried that. Next spring I'll give that a shot. Nice video, thanks.

[@RosannesGarden]

Glad to hear it! While perfect for tough Siberian Iris, the Sawsall can be a a bit much for other perennials. I tried it on hosta, but went back to a perennial spade.

[@shortchanged.]

Read this before I seen it. Funny cause I use a hand saw on my grasses and grass like plants.

[@judiklassen2793]

Thank-you for this informative video. You are my kind of gardener! I, too, have a recip saw - very handy. All my hand tools have bright survey tape tied to them as well. When you’re over 70, it sure helps those ‘now where did I leave it’ questions. LOL

[@RosannesGarden]

😂 Glad to hear it! Nothing's wrong with having a little help in the garden!

[@beckycification]

Thank you so much for your informative video. My Siberian Iris's are long overdue but now there's no excuse. thank You again.

[@RosannesGarden]

Glad to be of help! Thanks for visiting!

[@belindahanley7582]

Using the sawzall is brilliant. I never would have thought of it. I noticed you used a shovel to dig them out of the ground, I think a spade would have made an easier job of it with its pointed tip and curve. What do you think?

[@RosannesGarden]

The sawzall was my husbands idea. I agree - I'm back to loving my Iris again because dividing is so easy now. As to the shovel, I had to rewatch the video because I honestly didn't remember what I used. I was surprised by my choice too. I mostly always use my narrow trench spade for working with perennials. If you haven't seen it, you might be interested in my video on tools. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipDQnYqiZc5sqqs

[@katherinec7698]

Thank you for the great info. I need to divide several of these irises. For those that are nervous, or don’t have, a power saw they might try an inexpensive drywall saw. It is what I use for tough root-balls and for dividing my water lilies and bog plants.

[@RosannesGarden]

Great suggestion!! Thanks!

[@gracestokes3288]

What kind of a shovel did you use for the digging out? I am not familiar with a broad flat shovel. Does it have a specific name?

[@RosannesGarden]

Hello Grace. The tool is a spade, made by Sneeboer, a Dutch company. Although prices in a different currency, here's a link to their website, at least for product information. www.sneeboer.com/en-us/category/our-collections-garden-tools-en-us/spade/ We have quite a few Sneeboer tools and just love them. My husband and I really love their stainless collection. Also, if you're interested, here's a link to a video I did on our tools. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipDQnYqiZc5sqqs

[@lisac5287]

Wow, great suggestion with the saw!

[@RosannesGarden]

😁 I’m glad you think so! I’m just not strong enough to divide those tough little roots without some power tool assistance!

[@pamelaharnoisart]

How do you get such great looking soil? Did you add compost to regular dirt?

[@RosannesGarden]

Hi! First of all, we are fortunate to have great soil naturally, medium texture with the right amount of sand. I guess I can thank the glaciers ;-) We do mulch that bed every year with either cocoa bean hulls or triple-shredded pine bark. It decomposes into the soil and the soil just gets richer. We haven't added compost, just the mulch. Hope that helps!

[@jeffborkowski]

Im in zone 6b. Can this be done in the fall as well? Or always best to do in spring just after the initial growth shows?

[@RosannesGarden]

I haven’t done it, but fall should be a very good time to divide Siberian Iris. You will need to make sure the plants have at least five to six weeks for the roots to take hold before freezing weather. Good luck!

[@milenadeltorto7158]

U r my new hero! This is so great - to learn from a pro! Thank you!

[@RosannesGarden]

Thanks Milena! Glad to help! 🌹

[@vicmurai1033]

Thanks Rosanne - excellent and very informative video. One question though; how far below the soil level should the divided cultivar be planted? Should the crown be level with the surrounding garden soil? Merci bien.

[@RosannesGarden]

Hi Vic. I plant the divided Siberian Iris so that the crown is level, or ever so slightly above, the surrounding soil. I do not want soil in the crown itself. When I'm done planting the division, its crown should be the same height as the plants I did not divide. Hope that helps!

[@vicmurai1033]

Thanks for your prompt reply, Rosanne. Have a great day.

[@joangee5293]

Planning to divide my iris this week and i was wondering how i could make it easier so thank you..greetings from a rainy Manchester England

[@RosannesGarden]

Greetings to Manchester England! I'm so glad the video could be of help. I love the reciprocating saw - I'm just not strong enough otherwise! We just had a snow storm, but it should be warming up shortly. You can almost see the crocuses peeping out :-)

[@kellygwathmey3528]

Love this! A woman who works smarter, not harder!

[@RosannesGarden]

😉. Yes, that tool of mine is magic for weak arms.

[@TraBaumwolle]

I love your garden soooo beautiful 👍😍

[@RosannesGarden]

Thank you very much!

[@joannmicik1924]

Re: Toughest perennial to divide. I agree! Like trying to cut thru a car tire. I just saw a wonderful combo of Siberian Iris and Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis) filling an entire large garden area. I am going to divide a few of my Siberian iris and give that a try!

[@RosannesGarden]

Thank you Joann. Only after trying to divide Siberian Iris, do you appreciate the benefit of using a power tool. I'm just not strong enough to do it on my own. That combination sounds lovely. Thanks for watching.

[@_Hannah_..]

Hi ~~~ how do you keep the grass out ?

[@RosannesGarden]

The Siberian iris is in a bed with stone edging. That helps to keep the grass out. If there is grass, I pull it out.

[@stacysalinas22]

Thank you for the informative video! I have 2 giant ones in the front that I will need to split, pretty donut-y! I have lots of them around the yard, they sure have a lot of babies! The squirrels and chipmunks spread seed pods everywhere, I need to start cutting those off, I guess. Best wishes!

[@RosannesGarden]

You are quite welcome! I'm glad this video was useful. 😀

[@shortchanged.]

So glad you went more than quarters when dividing. Exactly what I woulda done. For size.

[@RosannesGarden]

Glad we agree!

[@juliepokela506]

Thanks for your video! It was very helpful. I’ve moved into a new house and discovered Siberian irises in ones or twos at various parts in the yard, generally outside the garden beds. Can I transplant them in the summer or early fall or do I need to wait till spring?

[@RosannesGarden]

You could certainly transplant them anytime. The key is how they will look for the rest of the season. By doing it early in the year, when the leaves are short and before they bloom, the plants look good right away. Mine are just beginning to flower now, so if yours are just blooming also, I'd wait until they are done blooming. The leaves will be very floppy and possibly not that attractive after the disturbance. You could always tie them up using a support of some type. I support mine after blooming too. If you move yours now, they should come up just fine next year. Hope that helps.

[@barrycrawford7410]

what time a year can i divide these?

[@RosannesGarden]

Depending on your climate, you can divide most perennials in spring, summer, or fall. I like to divide mine in early spring, when the leaves are not so tall and floppy. If you divide in the fall, do it early enough so that the plants can recover and the roots can take hold before the winter. All the best.

[@karijohnson832]

My grandma lived in South Minneapolis her whole life and the sound of the airplane at the end was exactly the sound of her backyard! I tried to divide and transplant my irises last August. They ALL died!! Apparently I can kill the hardiest of plants! I see now that I likely divided them too severely. I had almost a four foot by 18 in section of irises because they had not been divided in years. That is what happens when you buy a house and know NOTHING about plants...(my grandma prized potted violets in the house!) At least I only dug up half of the irises. I get to try again this year! Thank you for your help!

[@RosannesGarden]

Hi there! Ah yes, the South Minneapolis sound of airplanes 🫤. Sorry to hear about your Irises! Dividing any plant can be a bit traumatic for the plant. They need a period to recover and get strong again - avoiding hot sun, making sure they get enough moisture, making sure they have enough time to heal before the winter sets in. Good luck! This time will be the charm.

[@jenifernesin5167]

Hi Rosanne. Thank you so much for your video. It is very helpful. Is it necessary to take the 1/4 you want to keep out of the ground in the first place. Does it help the root system by moving it?

[@RosannesGarden]

Great question. It is not necessary to remove the 1/4 you want to keep. I do it, because I cannot cut it that way in the ground. I, nor my shovels, are strong nor sharp enough. So, I remove the whole plant, use a sawsall to divide it, and replant. That said, I believe it is always better to leave 1/4 of all herbaceous perennials in the ground if you can. I think it shocks the plant less. Good luck!

[@dhenkes1]

Great video - but one question - how deep do you plant the siberian iris?

[@RosannesGarden]

Thanks, glad you found the video useful. Good question. I plant the iris so that the crown is just above the ground, at the same height it was when I dug it up. None of the green shoots should be below ground level. Hope this helps. All the best with your iris.

[@turnedontunedin4510]

As I watched this wonderful video I noticed I was thinking, "Where did she find that great-looking jacket.....?"

[@RosannesGarden]

😀 Thank you. My jacket is a Carhartt. It is very functional too!

[@teresabuck3305]

What’s the best place to plant irises

[@RosannesGarden]

I grow most of our Iris sibirica in full sun. A few plants are in partial shade and they do fine, but I think the ones in the sun produce more flowers.

[@rachelmckee8980]

Thanks for the video!! 🌿🌿🌿 When did you cut it back? I just got some about 3 weeks ago from my aunt (7b) and planted them and their long leaves/stems are still all flopped over. Do you think I should cut the foliage back?

[@RosannesGarden]

Hi, Regarding your new plant, I would cut the leaves back to 6 - 8 inches or so. That way the energy goes into building strong roots. I'd leave them that way for the winter. Cut the flowers down to the base, again, to have the energy go into the roots rather than creating seeds. Every fall we cut back our Siberian Iris to about 4 to 6 inches. That way, it 's much cleaner in the spring when they bloom. Best of luck with your new plants!

[@Sofi_CraftsandMore35]

Do you divide in the spring or the fall?

[@RosannesGarden]

Hi Polly, I divide EARLY in the spring. That way, they will still flower and the leaves look good all summer long. I imagine dividing in the fall would work just fine too. The leaves may be more floppy, however, but it shouldn't affect the plant health.

[@josefev19950720]

Hello I just wandered, when my "sibirica iris" is going to bloom? I bought it February 2018 and planted it in spring 2018 April. It didn't bloom yet. I live in Sweden. How long it takes for it to bloom? Or maybe I did something wrong? It has worm place, sun all day and the rot is not so deep. What organic drinks she likes? Thanks

[@RosannesGarden]

In general, I would have expected it to bloom this year too. If the roots were very small and weak when you got the plant, the plant may be putting energy into developing a stronger root system, rather than flowers. Fertilizer would help. I would use a balanced organic fertilizer with relatively equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium such as 4 - 4- 4. Most garden centers should carry something similar to that. Also, make sure the plant is getting af least six hours of direct sun daily and is not too dry. Best of luck!

[@nancywebb6549]

Is that soil compost?

[@RosannesGarden]

It is soil that has been ammended over time with garden compost. We do sift the soil through a garden screen before planting in pots, however. It makes it easier and provides the newly divided plants "softer" soil. Hope I've answered your question.

[@judithjohnson2111]

Thanks. This was helpful because I have so many that have spread all over. I need to move so many. Helpful to see how you've done this. Now I know😀👍

[@RosannesGarden]

Great! Good luck with your project.

[@asianangie7209]

Great info, great demo!

[@RosannesGarden]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@spaciodecm]

Everything is Beautiful. :)

[@RosannesGarden]

Thank you! 😊. I'm so glad you are enjoying my channel!

[@CherylMuir]

Super helpful, thank you! 🌸

[@RosannesGarden]

So glad! 🌿

[@Veronica-je9qj]

Great info. Thank you. Now I want a reciprocating saw for Christmas! I'm to late asking for one for my birthday which was in April. :( I'm not that sad though. Now I'm looking forward to December!

[@RosannesGarden]

;-)

[@martinamorgan1119]

My mom loved irises,,in Spanish they are lirios,,,,,

[@RosannesGarden]

Yes, my mother did too! The delicate details are captivating.

[@banderaitaly]

Those roots are no joke I had to get a knife out and hacked it apart 😂

[@RosannesGarden]

Seriously, I know.

[@NipItInTheBud100]

Just an FYI Sawzall is a brand of reciprocating saw. Great video and information otherwise!

[@RosannesGarden]

Hi. Yep, I understand. Somehow I learned that and made sure to call it a reciprocating saw in my Garden Tools video. Glad you liked the video!

[@dreamasue]

I have irises that need need divided badly, they have been in the ground for about 12 years or more & they have started to have the hole in the middle like you showed on here , I didn’t know to divide every 2-3 years .. so I better put that on my list of things to do soon ! Thank you 💕

[@RosannesGarden]

Just think, you'll have all those iris divisions to plant elsewhere in your garden! Happy dividing! 😊