My question is simple. Sometimes we're starting to have frost at night here. Do I need to cover the newly planted Irises? They're right out in the center of the yard so they're not protected. Clueless, Mary Hughes

No, they will be fine. If your area got cold enough to have frost heaves (like Illinois or Minnesota), maybe, but the Hill Country is pretty safe from that kind of freeze.

You should be ok. If the irises look like they might heave, just put a brick on the rhizome (not on the end with the leaves) to hold it down.
That said, we have many cycles of frost and thaw in winter and I never had a rhizome heave out of the ground, maybe it is never cold enough?

Edited to add: I think some of the iris people here use mulch (@irisarian?) but are careful to remove it as soon as it warms up?

@lovemyhouse

Deb, I want burn your new avatar. I'm glad they knocked out the hated Dodgers, but they beat my Giants before that.

@UndertheSun

Sorry about that, Rob, but I am originally from South Bend, Indiana and have been waiting a lonnnnng time for this one.

All over my head!

Baseball, Mika.

I listened to the Cubs games on the radio when I was a kid in Milwaukee area.

Yes we often use a pine needle mulch on new plantings over the first winter. John checked the 2 which were planted in pots (they had no roots) but when we put them in the ground they seem to be very tight so don't need the anti heaving rock on top of the rhizome.

Sorry Rob, I am on the Cubs bandwagon too.

Lucy!

You Iris growers are great! Thank you for your help about the frost. I should have known with the pictures with the Dogs and that cute Cat. Being a Dog lover I've got two furry spoiled critters. They tend to run alot of my life. I used to have multiple cats until the Drs said that's why I kept coughing and sneezing. I can't win them all. Thanks again Mary H.

Don't forget to come back and post pictures of your iris in the spring! We love pictures.