Haven't had a problem for5-6 years, but I'll keep you in mind Arlyn

I also prefer using beneficial nematodes. Milky spore powder can also be used for japanese beetle grubs in the lawn as well as iris borers.

Cleaning up the foliage is an important step as is avoiding putting iris leaves in the compost bin. I just read an article posted that recommends cutting all iris foliage that wasn't removed in fall down to the rhizome in the early spring instead of only the brown and dying foliage. Has anyone tried that? I think I may give it a go next spring. I would usually trim the foliage down in the fall and then just pick any dead leaves off in the spring.

I try to cut the fans to 4"-6" in late fall, and then I'm" good to go" in the spring. I intended to "spring burn" this last season, but time got away from me, and new growth had already started, so I'm planning to "fall burn" this year. I see from your zone , that we are almost "neighbors", Joann! How was your bloom this year ? I blame last years drought for mine not being as good as usual.....Arlyn

yes, Arlyn, we are very close. I am in DuPage County.

I'm in the process of renovating most of our yard, and things are being moved around all the time, so my expectations were really low for blooms. I did have some bloom really well but most have been pretty sad. Same goes with my daylilies.

Even more disappointing, though, is I lost a couple due to rot. No borers, though, we've just had too much rain this spring I guess. It doesn't help that we had mulch installed and they were not very careful about it. I had to go around the yard searching for plants that had been completely covered in mulch!

Hey Joann -- I'm a DuPage County citizen transplanted to Kentucky. Lived in Villa Park, Addison and Elmhurst all of my adult life. Where are ya?

BTW -- welcome to our Iris group!!

This may be a silly question but what are spring or fall burns? Kim

What I do is scatter straw, or dry leaves over the iris bed, and set it on fire. Some growers do this during late winter, or early spring, to
remove" all the dead foliage, kill insects, and help hold down disease. I , personally , have always cut back the leaves, and then burnt -over the beds. As long as there isn't too much "fuel", the fire burns so fast that the rhizomes aren't hurt . In the past I had always done this in the fall. but last year, decided to wait till early spring...mistake!..We stayed in our "winter quarters" a little too late, and the new growth had started by the time we got home( actually, it started under the darn snow AFTER we got home, but by the time the snow melted, it was too late!).There have been several threads about "bed-burning", both here, and on Cubits, and if you "Face-book", Comanche Acres page talks about it on a commercial scale....Arlyn

Hmmm, many of mine are around the foundation of my house. Not sure I'll be lighting any fires that close to home! LOL

Right You would have to be out in a field.

Thanks for the welcome MuddyMitts!

Would you still do "burns" if you had the iris' planted in a mixed bed? Kim

Well, that would depend on what else was in the bed! We had lilies in with the iris, and that worked out all right, but I suppose something that doesn't die back to a below ground level would be hurt...Arlyn

I'm learning a lot from this whole conversation! Thanks to all who are sharing their experience!

borers are not the only thing. I spotted a small green inchworm type pale green insect yesterday crawling on an iris leaf a few plants away from where I was weeding. thank heavens I wear gloves so could go over & squish.

Did it look as though he had chewed on it? Or was he just passing by? I've had those green and black stripped "carrot worms" on some of mine in those planted on the edge of the garden, but I don't think they were chewing. Don't matter, though, as I sprayed the iris AND the carrots with BT! They last about 2 days and then go belly-up! And anyway, Lucy, I doubt the worm cared about your gloves being on ! ..Arlyn

I cared. It was very thin, iris leaf green, & trying to see where the leaf went. It never found out.

ATTA GIRL !...Arlyn

Squeeze and you'll feel them pop...ewww lol.

What are some warning signs that you have borers?

I don't think you have to worry Rob, as they don't seem to have made it that far west yet, so you're in luck.

Also Welcome to our Iris group. Good to see some new people here!

There is always exception to the rule but my understanding is that there are no borers west of the Rockies at the present time. Welcome Rob. We're getting a very nice iris group. .