What do I do with dutch iris bulbs this time of year?

I know you are supposed to plant them in the fall but I didn't. I got these at Ocean State Job lot pretty cheap so what now?



Do I keep them in the garage or plant them?



I have had NO LUCK at all with these things. I have planted some in the past and they all die.

What do I do with dutch iris bulbs this time of year?
Get them in the ground. They may not bloom this year but if you don't plant them, you will lose them for sure. Don't try to store them, they will dry up and die or mold and die. The best place is in the ground where they belong. If they are still sound and not all dried up, they will be ok.
Reply:I've had irises for years, and you might not believe me, but they are tough as nails. I'm thinking that you are planting the irises like they were tulips or other bulbs. Irises are rhizomes, and are not buried. If you bury them, they will most likely rot.



What you do is decide where you want to plant them, and then make a wide shallow "trench". The width is make sure whatever roots are dangling from the rhizome are covered with soil. You can cover the rhizome, but NOT DEEP! When I'm finished planting them, I can see their "backs" sitting above ground, and then I put down a thin layer of mulch to kind of hold them and keep them moist until they're established and let them do their thing.



Also, since they are rhizomes, they grow/spread laterally in one direction (once they get side shoots they will start growing in that direction too), so try to not "aim" them towards a wall or fence...otherwise, they will grow under the fence. I know of this because my neighbors irises grew under the fence on my side to the point where I had to move them LOL



Oh, I should also add that even though you're "supposed" to plant irises in the fall, just go ahead and plant them. If you don't, you risk losing them anyway...



Hope this helps...
Reply:plant them
Reply:Plant them as soon as you can.

Here's how to grow them:

Find a location where the soil drains well %26amp; gets full sun. Amend the soil with organic material to raise the level 2 - 3 inches to improve the drainage. Peat moss, compost, aged ground bark or decomposed manure all work well.



Plant the iris bulbs with the point facing up ...4" deep and 4" apart. Then water well, thoroughly soaking the area. Foliage sholud develop as the spring warms up the area %26amp; after they've had a chance to form roots.



After blooming has finished for the season leave the foliage in place; don't cut it off. The leaves will gather sunlight and provide nourishment for next year's show. Water as needed during active growth periods. Dutch iris actually prefer not to be watered while dormant.



At the end of the summer the leaves will yellow and die back as the plant slips into dormancy. Foliage many be removed at this point. Your iris will rest for a few months before beginning the next growing cycle.

http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.asp...



Be patient %26amp; don't give up on them or disturb them when they go dormant...so they can go through their regular plant cycle %26amp; come back when they're ready.



Good luck!!! Hope this helps.