Do I need to help my irises survive until spring?
by
Meghan M
+4
With our unusually warm winter here in the Kansas City area (60 degrees in January is NOT normal!), my irises popped up out of the ground! The plants have probably an inch and a half to two inches above the soil at this point. What do I need to do to help them survive the rest of winter? It is getting cold again now!
7 answers
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You can cover them. How many are you trying to protect will determine the best method. The cold may nip the foliage back but shouldn't affect the bulb. Things you can insulate with- mulch, pinestraw, styrofoam, sheets, frost fabric, plastic mini cold frame- Anyone want to chime in on what they have used or do use to give some protection? Just remember to take it off when the warm sun gets back out or you will cook them with some of the stuff I mentioned above.
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Jan 13, 2012
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Frost heaving can definitely be a problem with bearded iris because they sit so close to the soil. In future years, it would probably be a good idea to provide a winter mulch, putting it down around Thanksgiving and removing it in mid-March. For now, try to tuck the rhizomes back into the soil and follow Four Season's advice.
Douglas Hunt
on Jan 14, 2012
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what about my budding lilac bushes? do i just pray for the best?
Terry S
on Jan 14, 2012
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I am not sure whether you mean the rhizome of the iris has popped out of the ground or if the new foliage has popped out. If the rhizome is still at the correct place in the soil you should be able to lightly mulch the plants. The rhizomes should be safe and when the foliage freezes new foliage will form though blooms may be abit later than usual. Here in the Raleigh area some German Bearded Iris have formed bloom stalks with the warm weather. That's unusual for us. If you do mulch the iris you may want to keep an eye them to make sure some animal does not crawl under and eat the rhizomes. As for the question about lilac blossoms, they are tougher than they look. Some blooms may be damaged but you will probably still have color - and fragrance.
Mike and Anne
on Jan 14, 2012
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If the rhizomes are popping up from the ground, I gently press them back down with a foot. Works every time. I have gorgeous ruffled bearded iris!
BlueLine Home Maintenance & Remodeling
on Mar 03, 2013
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@Meghan M I am not familiar with your weather, but I think @Douglas Hunt has provided good information. If you don't have access to mulch this time of year you can always layer news paper over them and take it off when the temp is more normal. Weather in this area is quite fickle as well - I haven't found it to effect the foilage or the blooming. If it is icy it is best to mulch in some way.
Gail Salminen
on Mar 20, 2013
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My Irises in cincinnati ohio, are beautiful every year. I have put dirt and mulch on them and they always rise to the top. We get very cold temps here in January and February. You could cover them for the winter and that would help keep them, but they will uncover themselves.
Christine witham
on Feb 16, 2016
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