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Irises in Rock Garden?

14 years ago

I would like to create a rock garden of irises. The garden size is approximately 10 ft x 10 ft. I would like to plant iris bulbs, leaving a large enough hole for growth, and then sheet mulch (using cardboard) the unplanted areas and then cover the sheet mulch with rocks. Since irises usually spread, my guess is that the sheet mulch and weight of the rocks would prevent spreading. Would this harm any of my original irises? I haven't started the project yet. Thank you. Jane

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Comments (2)

iris_gal
14 years ago
Yes it would if they are beardeds. It is their nature to spread. Sort of like putting a rock on a child's head to keep him from growing?

If you had a large enuf area per bearded cultivar and faithfully divided every 3 years, rejunvenating the soil at that time, you could have success. It's recommended to plant tall beardeds 3' apart.

Your idea will work with clump-forming iris like Siberians.
ofionnachta
14 years ago
Why don't you make a rock garden with other things in there as well? Then when the irises are not blooming, you will have other lovely things to see in the rock garden---small daffodils in early spring and so on. Irises can look pretty ratty in midsummer.
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