My iris are coming up in clumps when should I divide them?

suffolk county

My iris are coming up in clumps when should I divide them?
in the fall
Reply:I prefer to divide them in the fall when they start to be dormant. Make sure the conditions are dry to minimize risk of decay. Also add bone meal or rock phosphate when transplanting. this will help the regenerate the bulbs in the spring. If you also have access to sea weed emulsion or basalt rock you can use this to add minerals in the spring.



Marc
Reply:Iris's are a very beautiful and easy to care for flower. Being perennials, they come up every year and require little, if any maintenance. If they are just now starting to pop up, now is not a good time to divide them. Wait until they have bloomed and have started to go dormant (usually in the fall of the year) before you divide them. I have several varieties of them and like to "mix and match" them n the same area. Over time they will start to "hybridize" and you'll be very pleased with the results.
Reply:If you want them to bloom this year, leave 'em be. After the blossoms fade, let the stalks turn brown---then divide and plant the divided tubers; late Summer or early Fall. Each tuber will reproduce many new plants. Cut the green "leaves" back to about 3-4" prior to transplanting. Next season you'll have blossoms that you won't believe! A balanced fertilizer such as triple 15 or 16 can be topically applied at the transplant stage---the Winter rain and snow will take care of the rest. Remember that Iris want full sun---don't expect great results if you plant them in a shaded area such as the North side of a structure (house, shed, barn).
Reply:the best time to do this is 6 weeks after they bloom in spring,that way you can dig them up divide them and replant them right away or store the bulbs till fall
Reply:It might depend on where you live. Is it still cool where you live? I would divide them while its still a little cooler (60's-70's). Make sure when you dig them up you dig a large root area. I have also noticed Irises are pretty hardy plants. Good Luck!