Transplant?

[nachoqtpie]

So, in my flower bed that's beside my steps, I planted some daffodils and irises (I THINK they're irises! I'm not remembering 100%) Well, I'm going to put some boarder around the flowers, but some of the irises have grown past the point where I want them to. Do you think I'd be okay to split them this spring and transplant them today and still be okay for flowers?

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they are irises the tubers will be above the ground. Where you are they probably should have started growing already. If anything is showing you might try posting a photo to help us identify them.

If you split them and replant them, and they are irises, you might get a few flowers this year but probably not a lot. Since iris tubers will be above the ground you could take a shovel an cut them off where you want to put your barrier and leave the ones inside. Iris are kind of hard to kill unless you drown them or smother them. The tubers like to be above ground and working on their tan. You could transplant what you cut off and start a new bed if you desire.

 

[nachoqtpie]

This is what I'm dealing with. I know I HAVE Irises I just can't remember if this is them or not....

 

[flowerweaver]

Looks like irises to me.

 

[nachoqtpie]

So do you think I should transplant now? Or no? It so, how do I separate the bulbs? I've never done it on my own before. :/

 

[thistlebloom]

Those iris' are Germanic, or bearded iris.
Just pop them out of the ground and separate the rhizomes. Discard the mushy ones or any that are shriveled or have a lot of insect holes, then replant with the rhizomes pointing toward the direction you want new plants to grow. (They will get congested really quickly if you plant them toward each other.) Keep about 1/3 of the rhizome exposed, if you plant them below the soil they will probably not bloom.

Technically you would only transplant them in mid to late summer after the bloom, but I didn't see any bloom stalks in your picture so if you do it soon (today!) they probably won't skip a beat and will bloom just fine for you.
But wait until after they bloom to move them if you aren't much of a gambler.

 

[ninnymary]

Nacho, you're a gambler! Go for it!

Mary

 

[nachoqtpie]

Haha! Okay. I'll transplant after lunch. *puts on gambler hat*

 

[nachoqtpie]

OKAY! So.. I pulled them out.. separated them and planted them in a new bed. Some of them I couldn't plant "above ground" and then I did cover them with mulch. (Hope that doesn't keep them from blooming!! )

 

[Carol Dee]

They should be fine. If they are near the surface they tend to work themselves up anyway. Looks like you will have a very nice patch there.