POSITION. Bearded Irises dislike being crowded in with other plants. They need an open position where they can feel the breeze.  Poor air circulation, like sticky soil, leads to bacterial problems. To flower well, Bearded Irises need full sun for at least six hours a day.  Gertrude Jekyll liked to grow Bearded Iris in rectangular beds set in stone paving.  Plenty of air and plenty of sun and easy to keep weeded. Plant irises in large masses, and experience the ultimate in nasal ecstasy.

SOIL PREPARATION. Bearded Irises are easy plants in well-drained soil.  They dislike sticky clay soils, which greatly increase the likelihood of bacterial problems.  They prefer the soil to be alkaline or neutral. Acid soil should be limed.  If the soil is heavy and needs breaking up, dig in quantities of spent mushroom compost or garden compost.  If drainage is very poor, raised beds may be worth consideration. Iris beds need careful preparation to ensure you have a weed free start.  Perennial weeds such as creeping thistle, nettle or ground elder are extremely difficult to weed from between established Iris rhizomes.  Irises do not like excessive nitrogen; never incorporate animal manure into a new bed.  Make sure any preparation work is completed a month before planting, so the soil can settle.

PLANTING IRISES. Irises should be planted in September, as all their new root development is done in late autumn and early winter.  Never transplant Bearded Irises in spring. Bearded Irises do vary in height and when planting an Iris border, try to grade the plants.  In an island bed the taller plants should go in the middle, for a bed against a wall at the back.  Bearded Irises, like many plants, look best planted in threes. If you plant just one rhizome of each variety the effect will be spotty.  Planting distances is, as usual, according to impatience.  But remember Iris rhizomes increase rapidly and close planting will necessitate frequent division.  I plant Tall Bearded Irises 60cm. apart, Intermediate Bearded Iris 40cm. apart, and Dwarf Bearded Iris 30cm. apart.  In the planting hole with each rhizome...

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