Normally, every fall I purchase about 200 bales of straw to tuck in all the iris for winter. Last year, we decided not to for many reasons: It takes about 40-60 work hours to get it done, it brings in tons of weed seed with it, the straw heads also drop seed and start to grow, this process is about Thanksgiving time when it's soooo cold (I am getting to be a wimp) & finally...straw is not free. I was planning on the normal 'snow cover' to take care of the iris for me, however, that did not happen this year. So then I was feeling guilty about not covering the iris with straw. Windy days like this help me to forget the guilt. HAD I covered them with straw, and still had NO snow cover, the straw would be in the next county anyway. So now I am glad I didn't cover them!
Does 'Jane' homeowner need to cover iris? It is always helpful the first winter of the planting year. Any perennial will be happy to have winter mulch, just in case they did not get very established the first year. Do not cover until mid November (yes, that's right). In the spring, pull back the mulch from perennials and nestle a couple of inches around the base, but completely remove away from bearded iris, their rhizomes need to stay dry. Most home gardens offer some type of protection & wind block from your house, fencing, etc., verses a wide open field like mine are located in.
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