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Name: Rita North Shore, Long Island, NY Zone 6B              Newyorkrita Jul 28, 2011 3:36 PM CST |
But I haven't even started yet. I Have lots of TB to dig and divide and since I have never done it before, it just seems like it is going to be a big major project. I mean, I do know what I am supposed to do (sort of) as I watched some dividing iris videos. But it still seems like its going to be hard to do.  Plus there is no way around it. The ones from two years ago definately have to be done. |
Name: Mitch Fitzgerald Blanchard Oklahoma (Zone 7b)           MitchF Jul 28, 2011 3:53 PM CST |
| Once you get in a grove out there it is not a big deal... and just think of all the new babies you will have to plant/share/sell/trade! Mitch Fitzgerald |
Name: Lucy Hamilton, MA (Zone 6b) irises       irisarian Jul 28, 2011 6:45 PM CST |
Make a list of the plants which need it most or a small area which needs to be done. that will break it up into a managable task. We are digging plants for the club sale on Sat. I went around the garden during bloom season & listed the ones to be done then. Of course I didn't see the time off to get a shoulder X rayed. things can interfere.  |
Name: Rita North Shore, Long Island, NY Zone 6B Newyorkrita Aug 3, 2011 1:42 PM CST |
| This is not working very well. I started on the iris dividing and in half an hour managed to do two plants. My back aches and I am exhausted. I honestly don't know how this is ever going to work out. I see now why people plant them way far apart. But of course mine are planted really close together. They have to be done this year or next year they will have run totally together. To am totally discouraged. |
Name: Lucy Hamilton, MA (Zone 6b) irises irisarian Aug 3, 2011 2:18 PM CST |
| Set a goal of 2 or 3 plants per day. If you don't finish, so be it. Got a shot for my shoulder today. Hope it works & it's so nice & cool for a change. |
Name: Polly Kinsman Hannibal, NY (Zone 6a)     PollyK Aug 3, 2011 2:32 PM CST |
| You don't want to do all of them the same year anyway. Stagger dividing them so the blooms will be fuller on some, each year. It is a job! Take a chair out. Dig the whole plant up at once, and sit and divide. |
Name: Rita North Shore, Long Island, NY Zone 6B Newyorkrita Aug 3, 2011 3:00 PM CST |
| I have to do the ones from three years ago, If I don't then next year I will not be able to tell which is which as they will be totally together. I have all the ones I planted last year which should be for dividing next year if they grow well. So I can't have the attitude that if I don't get to it no big deal as it would be a very big deal. I was out there struggeling, managed to dig some up and now carried them down near my kitchen door to tie surveyers tape on the extas with the name so I can give them to my friend that wants to plant some iris. The setting a goal of a certain number of plants is a good idea. Trouble is I haven't even made a dent in my goal for today. Well, off I go,. Will report back on how I am doing. |
Name: Polly Kinsman Hannibal, NY (Zone 6a) PollyK Aug 3, 2011 3:22 PM CST |
| I'd love to see a picture of one of your clumps, if you get the chance. Yes, please, report back. |
Name: Rita North Shore, Long Island, NY Zone 6B Newyorkrita Aug 3, 2011 5:21 PM CST |
| I am done for today. It started raining but just sprinkles. Enough to drive me inside. I do have a before picture of the small section I just worked on but it is still in the camera so will have to wait until I can get it posted. I worked on seven iris. Two I dug up completely and are outta here and did not get replanted. Some I divided and replanted some of the rhizomes. Then I figgured this digging wasn't working. So on the last batch I didn't dig and lift them. I just took out my big heavy garden slicing knife and hacked off rhizomes from each clump to make it smaller so it didn't spread out so much. I lift and hack off pieces of daylily clumps so was thinking why shouldn't this work with iris? First I cut back all the leaves of the ones I worked on so I could more easily see what I was doing. Then just hacked off some new rhizome growers that were off to the sides which made the iris clump smaller. Don't know what I think of my results but will look at it again tomorrow. The two empty spots will get transplants from elsewhere in the garden. The next section to work on is a section of six so I started by cutting back folliage until the rain sent me inside. Honestly I do all sorts of garden work, plant daylilies and divide them and even planting new iris that I bought. But nothing like this being really difficult. Daylililies are easy to divide compaired to this iris project. Took some asperin for my aches and will go at it tomorrow again. |
Name: Betty Bakersfield, CA      Betja Aug 3, 2011 6:21 PM CST |
| Rita, I know some people have recommended just working on about half of a clump and keeping the rest intact so insure better bloom the next season. I've tried that -- and I like it! Betty |
Name: Rita North Shore, Long Island, NY Zone 6B Newyorkrita Aug 3, 2011 7:09 PM CST |
| So maybe I am on the right track. I really didn't like the digging. But when I move to the ones out front in iris corner I will probably be back to digging weather I want to or not as space is so tight there. Well, no point in worry about it. I have to finish up iris row in the backyard first and then also do others along the front yard as well as Iris Corner. |
Name: Rita North Shore, Long Island, NY Zone 6B Newyorkrita Aug 4, 2011 2:39 PM CST |
Here is the section worked on in the before picture.  |
Name: Betty Bakersfield, CA Betja Aug 4, 2011 3:45 PM CST |
| Gee, that looks just like my front iris beds -- and I don't plan to touch them until Sept! Betty |
Name: Lucy Hamilton, MA (Zone 6b) irises irisarian Aug 4, 2011 3:55 PM CST |
| It h as to be done sooner in NY. Not worried about dividing them, but survival of replants. |
Name: Rita North Shore, Long Island, NY Zone 6B Newyorkrita Aug 4, 2011 4:36 PM CST |
| That's what I was going to say. Betty, you have a much longer growing season that we do here in NY. This is a good time to get them divided. That said, I didn't get to work on it today so am no further along than I was yesterday. |
Name: Betty Bakersfield, CA Betja Aug 4, 2011 6:45 PM CST |
| But there's always tomorrow... Betty |
Name: Rita North Shore, Long Island, NY Zone 6B Newyorkrita Aug 4, 2011 7:00 PM CST |
| Yes, deffinately need to get back on track and back on this project tomorrow. |
Name: Polly Kinsman Hannibal, NY (Zone 6a) PollyK Aug 4, 2011 7:24 PM CST |
| Yes, they definitely need division. Obviously some well grown irises, Rita! What will you do with extras? Family, curb sales? |
Name: Rita North Shore, Long Island, NY Zone 6B Newyorkrita Aug 4, 2011 7:36 PM CST |
| I give them to friends or maybe the more proper term for them would be acquentances as I seem to just attract people that are really happy top get my extra iris and daylilies. It has never been a problem. In fact I never have enough for everyone, |
Name: Polly Kinsman Hannibal, NY (Zone 6a) PollyK Aug 4, 2011 8:11 PM CST |
| Good for you! I'm glad to hear you're not just composting them. |
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