Iris Beguine

Iris Beguine should be planted shallowly, leaving the rhizome exposed at ground level. Add sand if the soil is too heavy or too wet, and place the rhizomes on small mounds. Ensure proper drainage to prevent the iris from rotting. In the summer, this iris should be watered 1 to 2 times a month. After flowering, cut the flower stems to 10 cm (4in) above the ground. Damaged leaves should only be removed in autumn. It is not a good idea to provide too much nitrogen as it weakens the plant and increases the number of leaves at the expense of flowers. As they grow taller, the flower stalks can become brittle. Iris can be susceptible to heterosporiosis, a disease characterised by oval brown spots. To prevent it, treat the iris with Bordeaux mixture at the beginning of the growing season. Divide the clumps every 4 years in summer after flowering by digging up the entire plant. Take the most beautiful young plants from the rhizome, usually those on the periphery, and transplant them to an area that has had no irises for at least a year.