I just got some irises in the mail and the roots look awfully dry. Would it be a good or bad idea to soak them for a bit while I get the bed ready? I admit it, I know next to nothing about iris care and feeding. But they were so pretty, I just couldn't resist trying.

Barry Blyth recommends that you soak them for a "short" time if they look too dried out before planting when they are shipped from Australia. I ususally don't, but I have had some that sat around a while before planting, and I soaked them for about 30 minutes before I planted them. I think it would be best to not soak them too long, but rather water them every day unless it rains for the first week or until you see growth starting. Are the leaves nice and green, or are they dry and brown? The roots that are on the plant most likely will die, and new ones will come from the rhizome anyway.

The leaves are pretty green, but they look just a bit parched as well. They didn't have to travel far, but they did sit in the mailbox for a day in 90 deg weather. Maybe just a brief soak and them wrap them in damp newspaper till I can get them in the ground? It's going to take me a while to get that bed ready. Sigh, it's full of grass and weeds right now, but it's really the best place I have for them. I had originally planned on putting them out with the roses, but I think they'll do better in their own bed. Heh, I'd sort of forgotten I'd ordered them.

I agree with Tom, sort of ! Put them in a cool place, in the shade, with good air flow around them, and ,when your bed is ready, THEN throw them in a pail of water for a half hour, or so, plant, and water well, and often, for the first week. Iris just go into a dormant state when they dry out, and can handle it just fine. If you wet them, or wrap them in wet paper, all you will do is encourage mold, or worse, rot. If it's going to be a long time till the bed is ready(3 weeks or so), I would "heal-them in" somewhere till the real bed is ready....Arlyn

Another option I am tryimng this year

They are tough plants and can handle it. Ever see those bins in the big box stores etc. with just dried out roots? Not the way I would want to get them but they grow once they get planted and set in. They just go through a rough looking stage.
I usually do as Arlyn said, heel them in either in a temporary pot or in a shaded area in a mound of soil.

Hopefully, it will just take me a day or two to clear out the bed. The worst problem is the grass that has taken over in one spot. And sigh, the ants. Can I use Preen around irises? Or should I wait till they've established themselves? Heh, it was only supposed to be 3 iris plants, but the seller tossed in 3 more, bless her heart. And not only did she add extras, but the extras are similar colors to the ones I ordered. Nice gal!
Ya know, I don't know why I'm stressing over these guys. When we moved here, the dogs found an iris tuber lying on the ground, so I took it from them and tossed it in a corner. The darn thing sat there for nearly a year before I finally took pity on it and planted it in a big pot. That iris took off and completely filled that container (it was one of those half wine barrels).
Ok, Arlyn, I think I have just the spot to tuck them while I get that bed ready. Nice and shady with a breeze.

A agree with Arlyn, I would just keep them in a cool spot until you're ready to plant, Then soak them a while. I'd keep them dry until that bed is ready.

Preen is a preemergent for weeds seeds. Try 'Grass-B-Gon' for grassy beds. It does not hurt the irises, but don't use if there is rain.

I soak the roots (not the rhizome) overnight. It can help.

Hmmm, I'm getting really tired to trying to yank out that grass. Some of it is coming out easy, but the rest is being obnoxious. And I just happen to have some Grass Getter, which I think is the same as Grass-B-Gon.
Wait a minute. Are you saying that Preen doesn't work on grass seed?

Yes, it stops ALL seed germination. It dose not KILL any broadleaf or grass, though....Arlyn

Give it a good soaking, then try pulling. Some of my best weed cleaning is right after a good rainfall but we don't get rain all summer so I resort to watering the area to loosen the weed roots.

There are a couple of existing irises right in the middle of the grassy patch, which is one of the reasons I thought it would be a good spot for the new ones. Sigh, I haven't had much luck with irises, so it was a pleasant surprise to see these little survivors. No idea what they are, tho! And a couple of daylilies and oriental lilies, so I can't just hack and maim. I did run the water for a while this afternoon, so we'll see what I can yank out. Then I may just drag out the grass killer!