Viewing post #1761337 by TBMan

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Jul 13, 2018 1:50 AM CST
Name: Timothy
eastern oregon (Zone 7b)
Bulbs Region: United States of America Plant and/or Seed Trader Enjoys or suffers hot summers Salvias Region: Pacific Northwest
Peonies Region: Oregon Irises Hybridizer Herbs Dahlias
trimming spent/diseased iris foliage at any time is beneficial from the standpoint of clean garden culture which pre-empts disease development and insect infestation.
HOWEVER ..........
Cutting the green healthy growth, just because traditional garden wisdom says so, is in my IMHO, an unproductive task. Please remember, that bearded iris, no matter where you live, never truly go in a bona fide "dormancy" in the summer.
They are in a modified growth phase, in which metabolites synthesized in the leaves are being directed down to the rhizome for storage until needed the following spring for growth and bloom. Also, anchor roots are being put down at this time. These anchor roots are gathering, primarily phosphorus and potassium, (as well as moisture). This P and K loading by the anchor roots is best combined with the sugars and other metabolites produced in the leaves for optimum starch, carbohydrate and sugar composition in the rhizome.
If you aren't transplanting or shipping iris, save yourself some work and hold off on the foliage cutting until fall, when the plants truly enter into winter dormancy
Last edited by TBMan Jul 30, 2018 5:44 PM Icon for preview

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