Here are the iris I divided today. Cool hey?? I am loving gardening so far, missteps and all!

Wow, you have a lot of fine gifts to give to your friends there!

If you have pulled out all of the leaves from the soil, you should be okay on the borer situation, as far as I understand it. We don't have them here, but others have said the eggs overwinter on old leaves.

The rot bacteria is always in the soil. I don't think the blowtorch would work, but it sounds fun. Good drainage is the best way to avoid rot.

I mix some compost into the soil when I divide. I have a compost pile, though, so it's free. Irises don't really need fertilizer, and some people say you should stay away from nitrogen fertilizers altogether. I think the cheapest amendment is the 75 cent bags of composted steer manure- if you can get it home. I wouldn't use much, though, maybe a bag, because it is high nitrogen.

Good work dividing all of those irises. I did the same thing today. Lots of extras to bring to my iris society meeting on Thursday!
Renee