I have some irises in the corner of my backyard and I want to move them because the location they are at right now has dock over there and last year my irises never bloomed because of the dock. When should I move the irises? I was thinking about making a flower box or a raised flower bed to put them in but I don't know what wood to use or what to do. I would love to be able to see them bloom this year. Please Help! ( photo / image / picture from jbrowning84's Garden ) Here is a picture of the dock. I'm not sure if I should just wait another summer and then move them in the fall or just dig them all up and store them and treat that area until all the dock is gone and then replant them in the fall, but i'm afraid to do all that work and it come back.
Dock will not keep iris from blooming. Mine are growing in the back of my house with no care at all weeds and all and bloom fine. You may have them too deep. They do not do well if planted deep. The rhizomes (roots) need no more than 1 inch of soil on top and after they are established, they need even less. And they like mottled sun/shade. Older varieties can handle more sun that the others. You can transplant iris any time you can dig the soil. Even mid summer with no problems. I think they would grow on concrete if you tossed a bit of dirt on them.
Ideally Iris should be moved in the late summer/early fall after they have completed their bloom cycle. Moved in the spring you sacrifice this years blooms but since they haven't bloomed at all, moving them now won't make a difference. Do you know what type they are....Bearded, Japanese, Dutch, etc? Bearded Iris must be planted with the top of the bulb a little above ground level, any deeper and they won't bloom. Japanese, Dutch and Siberian Iris should be planted 1-3 inches deep with none of the bulb showing above ground. If you use a chemical to kill the Dock, find out how long the residual stays in the soil. You don't want to replant the Iris and have them killed. A raised bed for them can be made out of 1"x12" untreated boards. The boards will be pretty rotted away at the base in about 5 years but if it is to be a temporary home for the Iris that shouldn't be a problem. You can also buy raised bed kits at some garden centers that are made out of a hard plastic and really easy to assemble and will last longer if you want a permanent home for them. Fill it with top soil and compost and they will be fine. Iris really aren't all that picky about the soil they grow in, mine are in black clay and bloom beautifully every year.
The irises aren't blooming because the dock gets so big that it shades them or knocks them down. I have tried keeping the dock cut down but it's hard to stay caught up with it cause it goes so quickly, I tried using that weed block you out down then cut a hole to plant and the dock just grew through the holes. I think I may have some Bearded Irises and I am pretty sure the rest are Siberian. They were all given to me couple years ago. I may just go ahead and move them. I live in Ohio so the weather is very unpredictable yesterday it was 70 and today its 53 and chilly. lol
Earlier this week we had temps in the upper 70`s and this morning it was 49. My white bearded iris are in full bloom. The Louisiana iris will be later. Just dig that weed up and spray the remainder with vinegar. Should not hurt the iris and may slow the growth of dock.
