Must be hardy geraniums in Vermont? And bearded iris?

If there is planty of air space they will most likely be fine. But if you have summer rains and the geranium foliage gets matted when wet (or is matted and thick when dry), then is it providing an unhealthy condition for the rhizomes. Nothing heavy or moist should lay on the rhiz. Dry rhizomes are happy rhizomes.

thank you irisgal. I think I will clear away some of the geraniums just to be sure. I will be cutting them down once they stop blooming. One little plant has spread to a bed 2'x5'. Time to transplant or thin out.