How to Transplant Irises From Cuttings

Insert a trowel into the soil just outside the clump of iris roots, after the plants have finished flowering in late summer. Dig around the outer perimeter of the clump and lift the roots out of the loosened soil.

Brush the excess soil off the rhizomes so you can examine them. Cut back the foliage to one-third of its previous height, using shears.

Cut apart the rhizome with a clean knife. Each root cutting must contain a fan of leaves and healthy roots attached to the bottom of the rhizome. Dispose of any rhizome sections that are soft, rotten or appear diseased.

Spread 2 inches of compost over a well-drained garden bed that receives six or more hours of daily sun in summer. Dig the compost into the top 8 inches of soil to help improve drainage.

Plant each root cutting so the top, where the leaves emerge, is just beneath the soil surface and covered with no more than one-half inch of soil. Space the rhizomes 12 inches apart in clusters of three, arranging them so the leaf fans are oriented toward the outside of the cluster. Space the clusters 12 to 24 inches apart.

Water the irises immediately after planting so the top 6 inches of soil is lightly moistened. Continue to water about once every one to two weeks when the soil feels almost completely dry.