I wouldn't worry about it. Most plants are pretty tough. :) You probably did the same thing i would have done.

you did what i've always done and i've never killed them!

When I divided my iris last year, I found some of them had iris borer. I cut out the infected parts and then, because I cut them, I rinsed them and left them to dry overnight so the cut edge could callus over. When I have an iris that has no sign of infection, I just go ahead and plant it as others do. Marg

Yeah I was just going to say the drying is probably to deter borers. If you don't have borers you're ok to do what you did.

I have treated irises very, very badly and they survived. (mind you those were the vigorous kinds that spread rampantly)

I don't have a clue what iris borers would look like, but I'm betting they're something I might not want to see....I have a fairly low "ick factor" tolerance =:)

Would there be holes? I didn't have anything that looked wrong, but I might as well learn what to look for. I've got lots more to divide later.

Thanks!

NAF - you aren't "nuts" any more than I am ;)...I've only had to divide irises once, but that is how I did it too. And they are just fine! In fact...they could be divided again...

Hey, I didn't know about letting them dry or washing them. I guess because I let my clumps get so big by the time I hack my way through the massive clump the cut ends may have dried. Who knows. c

I thought I'd update you all on the iris that I divided last year.

I must have done something right, as it's at least tripled in size and is concealing most of the rose bush behind it. I guess I'll have to move it again, when I make more room for it, LOL !

Did it bloom this year?

Only a few blooms Marcia.

It'll reward me next year won't it?

Lynn

Hopefully it will. :) By then you'll have a camera, right? LOL

I think it is hard to kill an iris. I was cleaning out a bed last year and just threw a bunch into the bush which comes right up to the flower bed. Well I noticed they are growing as good as ever.The new hybrids may not be as tuff but I still think they are hard to kill