Many of us are accustomed tocutting back our decorative grassesin later winter to get rid of dead folio and promote fresh , attractive maturation .
You might wonder if it ’s also necessary to rationalize back grassy flag such as bicolor ( Dietes bicolor ) or African ( D. vegeta ) — plant that also sport the longsighted , slender leaves coarse to smoke .
We ’ll look at the taxonomy of these plants , and then get down to brass weather sheet about whether you should be cutting them back .
This bicolor iris was chopped back in late winter and produced new leaves almost immediately. Still, the plant could use a little cleaning up. Photo by Gretchen Heber.
What’s in a Name?
Just so we ’re on the same Thomas Nelson Page about what plants we ’re talking about , let ’s get some perplexing language business sort out . The genus for this mathematical group of rhizomatous plant isDietes , which is aside of the familyIrideceae .
These plants were once sort out in the genusMoraeabut were kick out because they have rhizomes , as oppose toMoraea , which have corms . Corms are a dissimilar type of underground industrial plant stem , one that ’s more bulblike .
All this is to say there are almost as many names for these long - leafed beauties as there are star topology in the sky , so do n’t be appal if you call them tomato and your neighbor forebode them toe - mah - toe .
This bicolor iris was chopped back in late winter and produced new leaves almost immediately. Still, the plant could use a little cleaning up. Photo by Gretchen Heber.
Herein , we ’re referring to species in the genusDietes , and you’re able to enforce the instructions below to plant commonly known as African flag , bicolor iris , fortnight lily , butterfly iris , Nipponese iris , Sir Henry Wood iris , and probably untold other nicknames .
Start with Routine Maintenance
On an as - needed basis , cut browned or xanthous leaves back to the base of the verdure with pruning shears . slue crisply and cleanly straight across the leaf blade , near the crown of the plant life .
If you want to prevent the plant from self - seeding , cut just under the green seedpod with scissors grip to remove it .
you could twitch or snip expend prime , but do n’t remove a goodly - looking prime chaff . It will proceed to raise many more blooms .
At some point , however , the flower stalk ’s diminution will become discernible , and you may prune it back to the crown .
The Big Chop: Yes or No?
The brusk answer is yes , it ’s perfectly okay to completely cut back yourDietes .
A sweeping cut , as you would do with ornamental grasses , is in spades in order if you ’ve neglected yourDietesfor several old age and there are more browned and yellow leaves than dark-green .
Aftercutting the intact plant back to ground level with hedgerow clipper ship , the plant will joyously return to life , amount springtime .
You ’d rather do this cutting in autumn , but do n’t sweat it if you ’re unmotivated to get out there until the weather has warmed up .
Gardeners have expect well into spring , even when new growth was percolating , before bringing out the big torpedo and giving the plant a shaving . And the plant life has survived quite nicely .
It ’s a good estimation to thoroughly irrigate these ordinarily drouth - tolerant plants after a haircut , and offer a balanced plant food with adequate amount of nitrogen , phosphorous and potassium to serve encourage new growth .
Sharpen Your Tools
So , in the midst of carefullypruning your crape myrtle treesand tending yourwinter lettuces , do n’t block to have a facial expression at your grassy iris and measure whether they could use a picayune touch - up clipping , or perhaps even a wholesale slash back .
An abundance of fresh , green , spiky foliage will be your payoff for a chop shot well done .
Pruning picture by Gretchen Heber , © necessitate the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Gretchen Heber
