Question regarding iris foilage

20 years ago

Hi there,

Last year I was given a few iris clumps from a neighbor who was thinning out her beds. I got them in the ground right away, and they did well. My question is, the plants still have last years foilage on them. I never cut them back because I figured that the foilage would die back on it's own over the winter. Well we had an unusually mild winter and last years foilage is still green and healthy.... Do I cut it back now or just leave it alone? Is it something I should've cut back? if so, when is the optimum time to do so?

I appreciate any imput you guys can give me.

Thanks,

Millie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

ymeador
20 years ago
Hi Millie,

I wouldn't cut them, especially if they are all green and healthly. You can pull off any dead brown outer leaves. I think as long as they are healthly and have no fungus, disease, etc you should leave them as they are. Just my opinion. Alot of us only cut ours when we are digging and dividing.

Yvette
numama
20 years ago
Hello Millie,
I think Yvette is correct. Most of the foilage on my Iris never died completely.
I pulled all the dead outer leaves off a couple weeks ago and everything is growing great. The rhizome gets its energy from the leaves so if you don't have to cut them, don't.
Take Care,
Nancy
Related Professionals
St. Louis Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Ontario Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Yakima Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Ottawa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Huntsville Landscape Contractors · California Landscape Contractors · Albany Landscape Contractors · Billings Landscape Contractors · Medford Landscape Contractors · Olympia Landscape Contractors · Athens Design-Build Firms · Moline Design-Build Firms · Minneapolis Design-Build Firms · Toledo Design-Build Firms · Pullman Design-Build Firms
missspoiled25
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks so much Yvette & Nancy.
I appreciate your responses.

Millie