I think it might be fun to watch our iris grow as spring approaches. This is how mine look on Feb 14th. What about yours. I wish had cut them back in the fall but didn't . As soon as the soil drys I'll put the labels back into the ground. What do yours look like now and as they progress?

Most of mine look like your first picture, partially buried in snow.

Paul I will take some pictures and share as they progress, I am in the same boat I did not get most of them cut back this year and I was way late spreading the compost around all of them it did not get done until late November this year, most of mine look to be in good shape other than the damage from rabbits. I am very interested in seeing how others gardens look as they start to grow and which one is the 1st to bloom.

I have a couple of varieties, relocated last year, that have absolutely launched themselves out of the ground -- and have to be replanted. And the ground is soggy mud right now, so can't replant for awhile yet. No blooms there, this year!

Everything else looks good!

We plan on heading home next week, and I'm curious to see how mine survived the winter. I normally don't cut them back in the fall( at least for the last few seasons)., So spring "clean-up" is rather a big chore. Last winter was mild enough that some of the "old fashioned" cultivars, stayed green all winter. And all of them really "too off" in the early spring. Sounds like we've had much more moisture this winter than last. Hope the trend continues!...Arlyn

Paul!! You cant imagine what a help this is.I didnt know iris could be trimmed back in fall.
Samurai Warrior

KOI







Many of these are only 2 years old and didnt bloom last spring due to awfull weather pattern.
My head is full of images of all these in bloom in May.

I trim them back very late in the fall....after a hard frost when I think they are dormant. I like them to store all the energy that they can for the following year so trim late.

Good idea, Paul. I can't get anywhere near mine, but will take pictures as we progress into spring.

Do you cut them back in spring, or just leave them?

Jo, Cafe Mocha looks ready to go.

Polly....I will remove all the brown leaves and cut the rest back. I'll hope for some nice days in March-April to do that. Also will have roses to prune. A busy time of the year coming up.

But a good one after a long winter.

I will cut back the dead parts of the increases from last fall and totally take the all dead ones when I prune.
Like Polly I have too much snow.Of all the iris I have the pix are the only ones not buried.

Polly I am just hoping for a nice clump of Cafe Mocha in May.

We cut back siberian foliage when it starts to turn brown, usually in OCT. Do not do any cutting of the bearded , will take off dead leaves but leave the green leaves to store food. Everything is way under the snow at present.

Here went we dig and replant we trim the foliage back to about 6" plant, try to get back to them to take the dead leaves off but usually have to do that job in Spring.

Today too cold and yucky to work outside.

D

All of ours are actually buried under roughly 3-4 ft of snow... gonna be a bit before it melts enough to work out there. I'm feeling a lot of zone envy at the moment.

under snow here as well.

Same here and we are due for more snow today and single digit lows for awhile.
The Cardinals are calling and the sun feels warmer so I know daily temps will even out a few degrees higher than January.

We have heard a cardinal also. I. pumila not blooming until early April.

I normally remove dead leafs in the late fall towards the end of October or early November, I think it helps with the leaf spot and helps to keep the borers away. I cut them back at the same time to about 6 inches and then add a thin layer of compost around them to help protect from the winter freeze thaw cycles. We got busy with work late fall, this year so I only got a couple of the beds done, but I am planning on working on it soon if the weather stays warm. I am starting to see signs of spring here, the buds are swelling on some of the early blooming trees and shrubs. Which is a great sign that we are on the downward slide towards spring. It is amazing once the plants wake up how fast everything grows in six weeks or so it will be all green again.




I am looking forward to my Roses as well after the Iris are gone, I keep my nose in them
a comparison picture from late last summer to today.

With snow melt we are seeing the tops of 3 of our 4 whiskey barrels. Their soil needs renewal.

So much promise there,great pictures.