Iris beds should be kept clear of weeds and other junk so that the tops of the rhizomes can get some sun. Bloom stalks should be cut off close to the base after all buds have finished blooming. Healthy green leaves should be left undisturbed all summer, but diseased or brown leaves should be removed. In the fall, trim the leaves to a height of approximately six inches. Remove weeds, leaf debris, grass roots from Iris beds. In regions with especially cold winters, lay winter protection over the rhizomes. We recommend straw, evergreen boughs, or anything that will provide air circulation and insulation against the cold. Remove winter protection in the spring.
Carefully remove spent blooms and branches from your iris beds during bloom season to keep them looking bright and new. Watch our short video on the proper way to remove spent blooms. Run time 1:18 minutes. Watch another video on deadheading Iris from our friends at Garden Time. Maintaining Iris Flowerbeds.
Iris beds add stunning color and texture to any garden. However, keeping iris beds looking pristine can be a challenge due to weeds invading the area. Weeds compete with irises for water, nutrients and space. Left unchecked, weeds can smother out irises completely. Don’t let weeds run rampant in your iris planting! With some diligent maintenance, you can keep iris beds mostly weed-free. Let’s explore useful strategies gardeners employ to banish weeds from their lovely iris patches
Why Weeding is Crucial for Irises
Before we dive into weed control methods let’s examine why staying on top of weeds is so important for the health of irises
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Irises have shallow root systems that spread horizontally. Weeds with deep taproots easily rob water and nutrients from iris roots.
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Weeds like nutsedge and quackgrass are aggressive spreaders that quickly overwhelm iris plants.
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Left unchecked, weeds will choke out iris foliage, leading to declined vigor and reduced blooming.
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Weeds that mature and go to seed leads to an ongoing battle. Stop them before they reproduce!
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Crowded beds with lots of weeds limit air circulation. This leads to fungal diseases in irises.
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Weeding helps you monitor for iris borer infestations, aphids and other pests. Catch issues early!
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Bottom line: don’t give weeds a foothold! Staying on top of weed control is essential for growing gorgeous, healthy irises.
Effective Weed Prevention Methods
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies to iris bed weeding. Stopping weeds before they start is much easier than trying to eradicate them later. Here are proactive weed prevention tips:
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Start weed-free – Remove all weeds before planting irises or replenishing mulch.
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Edge beds – Use a sharp half-moon edger to maintain crisply defined bed edges. This stops weeds from creeping in.
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Mulch well – Apply 2-4 inches of weed-free mulch like shredded bark annually. This smothers weeds.
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Be selective – When planting irises, group them together and avoid mixing in other perennials and ornamental grasses. This minimizes weeding needs.
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Fertilize – Give irises a feeding in early spring with a balanced fertilizer to help them outcompete weeds.
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Monitor for weeds – Inspect beds frequently and remove weeds before they get established.
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Hand pull weeds after rains when the soil is moist and roots pull up easier.
Manual Weeding Techniques
Despite your best prevention efforts, weeds will inevitably crop up in iris beds. Thankfully, there are several effective methods to remove them manually:
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Hoeing – Use a long-handled hoe to slice weeds off at soil level. Be careful not to damage shallow iris roots.
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Hand pulling – Wearing gloves, grab weeds low and gently pull/wiggle them out, roots and all.
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Weeding tool – A tool like a hori-hori knife lets you dig and pry out weeds.
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Spot treat – For small infestations, manually dig out weeds or spot treat with herbicide (see next section).
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Mulch maintenance – Reapply mulch that has thinned out to smother existing weeds.
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Flame weeding – Use a small propane torch to zap emerging weeds. Don’t leave it in one spot too long.
Be diligent and weed after rains before weeds get established. Consistent manual weeding keeps beds looking great.
Using Herbicides on Iris Bed Weeds
Manual weeding is effective but labor-intensive. For larger iris beds, herbicides judiciously applied can help tackle weeds efficiently. Some key tips:
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Preemergent herbicide applied in early spring prevents many weeds all season long. Use this routinely.
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Postemergent herbicides kill actively growing weeds. Spot treat young weeds rather than widespread spraying.
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Select an iris-safe herbicide formula labeled for ornamental beds. Read the label!
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Shield irises from contact with spray shields or cardboard when spraying beds.
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Only spray on calm days without wind that may drift to irises.
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Carefully follow all label precautions like avoiding spraying during temperature extremes.
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Combine herbicide use with manual weeding for best weed control with minimal product use.
Control Specific Tricky Iris Bed Weeds
Some weeds like nutsedge and quackgrass require extra persistence to remove from iris plantings:
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Nutsedge – Hand dig out nutsedge tubers or spot treat with a nutsedge-specific herbicide like SedgeHammer.
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Quackgrass – Repeatedly hand pull quackgrass clumps out by the roots to exhaust the rhizomes.
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Bindweed – Sever vines repeatedly as they regrow and apply concentrated herbicide to cut stems.
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Chickweed – Pull out chickweed by hand frequently or use a preemergent herbicide to prevent its germination.
Learn to identify your most problematic weeds. Then you can take steps to specifically target and eliminate them.
Maintaining Weed-Free Irises is Worth the Effort
Keeping iris beds free of invasive weeds is an ongoing process, but very worthwhile. Weed control allows irises to thrive and showcase their spectacular blossoms. Follow the tips in this article and you’ll master keeping your iris patches pristine. The beauty of your colorful blooming irises will be your rewarding payoff. Happy weeding!
How to Keep Weeds Out of an Iris Bed
How do you get rid of irises in a garden?
Spray existing weeds with a sethoxydim-based weed killer to destroy weeds without damaging irises. Hand pull weeds to remove them naturally. Dig up iris rhizomes in the fall, weed the bed, then trim and replant the rhizomes. In spring, mulch your iris bed, making sure not to cover the rhizomes.
How do you keep weeds from growing in iris beds?
Buffalo or Couch grass can easily spread into your iris beds if there is no physical barrier. Keeping the beds mulched with a layer of bark mulch will help to prevent additional weeds from growing in your garden beds. Keep the mulch layer topped up to 2 inches and away from the base of your iris plants.
How do you get rid of Iris weeds?
Spread pre-emergent in your iris bed in spring, to stop weeds from sprouting. Spray existing weeds with a sethoxydim-based weed killer to destroy weeds without damaging irises. Hand pull weeds to remove them naturally. Dig up iris rhizomes in the fall, weed the bed, then trim and replant the rhizomes.
How do I Keep my Iris blooming?
Either way you go, you can keep your irises blooming beautifully and free of invasive weeds. Once soil temperatures rise to 55℉ (13℃) in spring, apply an iris-safe pre-emergent herbicide. Preen is safe for use in iris beds. It will kill weeds, grass, and other plant seeds as they sprout underground, but won’t harm your iris rhizomes.