While I have been gardening for a few years I still consider myself a novice. I keep things simple and just wondering if there are any other steps I can take to keep this under control:

from my blog:

Mr. Roberts is gone, GONE! the other iris close to it looked a bit "stained" and I dug around a little and my fingers got very black. Looked it up and it must be borers. Never had'em before...I found the mostly deteriorated rhizomes of Mr. Roberts and got rid of them. Checked the rhizomes of Gingerbread and cleaned it up a little before replanting. Crossing fingers.

I should mention these are small newly planted this spring

I have never experienced borer in a new planting before. The iris borer moth that lays the eggs on the plant is known to do that the previous Fall season or late Summer from what I have seen and they hatch in the following Spring. So, it is a little unusual to have borer on a Spring planting unless it was contaminated last year or perhaps this year by borers that hatched on a neighboring plant and were able to migrate. Did you see a borer?

If not, could it be soft rot? Are you familar with this?

K

Did not see a borer. Maybe it is soft rot. Not familiar with it but i'll look it up. Thank you!

Soft rot has a very distinct bad odor. Once you smell it you will immediately recognize it next time.

The rhizomes are so small, one portion looks like peanut butter and has a little odor to it. Maybe I should try to salvage the hard parts?...I have taken them out of the garbage.

Scrape off any soft parts. Sprinkle on some Ajax or Comet Cleaner.....powder. Then set in a dry place for a few days and then plant and water sparingly. Do not watch to close

Thanks for the additional information. and, I'll try not to watch too close

I had soft rot on some that I planted too deeply in an area that stayed damp longer than other parts of my yard. I dug them up, cut off the soft part, and sprinkled them with Comet powder, like above. I also put some Comet in the soil where I replanted them, in a different area with better drainage. I was so worried I was going to lose them, as a lot of them were mushy, but they recovered fine and went on to multiply the next couple of years. Good luck!

Thank your for the encouragement Angie. I replanted what little was left using the comet prior during a dry out period and re-planted in a dryer location. Hope I see it next year...stay tuned ha, ha.