Divide whiskered iris . If your garden includes near old - fashioned bearded sword lily ( Iris×germanica , Zones 4–9 ) , take yourself when you last divided your clumps . If it ’s been longer than five years , or if you ’re wonder why they ’re not flower like they used to , it ’s metre to nobble , separate , and replant ( and/or bet plant fairy by donning your gloves and shed off a purse of rhizomes on a admirer ’s doorstep).Here ’s a simple step - by - whole tone guide on dividing bearded irises . Replant your iris right after digging , or protect their roots in dampish newspaper publisher for up to a calendar week before replant . If their former site has become shady , move to a spot with at least half - twenty-four hour period sun , in decently drained grease , and plant shallowly . northerly reference will take a firm stand on full Lord’s Day , but they ’ve not got our full sun ! Water them well every few days for about six week . If you ’ve aim sandy soil , a little fertiliser each fountain is in monastic order . Otherwise , you ’re good to go for the next five years .
Encourage later - blooming perennial to stand marvellous by cutting them back before they bloom!This is known as the Chelsea ( or June ) Chop . While it go like a form of medieval torment , it ’s actually revolutionary for marvellous perennial . In seasons of good rainfall , especially in corpse - loam ground , tall perennials can shoot up like rockets only to crash down during windy summertime storm . Reducing their height by switch off them back by one - third to one - half now wo n’t sacrifice bloom . recurrent sunflowers(Helianthusspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–9),asters(Symphyotrichum , zone 3–8),tall black - eyed Susans(Rudbeckiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–11),salvias(Salviaspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–11 ) , andupright sedums(Hylotelephiumspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) may flower a hebdomad or so later than usual with this method , but you ’ll get to appreciate them upright and shining on sturdy stems , rather than lying down on the job . Here ’s a handy how - to manoeuvre for performing the Chelsea Chop . Some of the plants name in this article as good candidates , likesummer phlox(Phlox paniculata , Zones 4–8 ) andyarrow(Achilleaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , may already be in blossom here in the Southeast in June . They can still benefit from a Chelsea - expressive style chop shot after their master bloom is fading , which would function basically as a mass deadheading to encourage a second wafture of prime .
Propagate woody flora . June and July are meridian time in the Southeast for woody plant propagation by slip . Many woody plant are moving from the softwood stage into the semi - hardwood stage this calendar month . Some slap-up candidates for June propagation arecamellias(Camelliaspp . and cvs . zone 6 - 10),viburnums(Viburnumspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9),tea olives(Osmanthusspp . and cvs . , Zones 7–10),forsythia(Forsythiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) , andspireas(Spireaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–9 ) . But do n’t stop there — explore the plant you want to try in any trustworthy resource that admit propagation information ( such as Michael A. Dirr’sManual of Woody Landscape Plants ) . If you see any of these terms—“late spring , ” “ midsummer , ” “ deal , ” or “ semi - hardwood”—go for it . Yes , I ’m suggesting you try this at home base ! You ’ll necessitate root hormone powder , perlite ( or coarse moxie ) , and potting soil ( or peat ) . Various containers — from plastic entrepot container , to milk jug , to used cell - packs , to pots paired with jumbo - sized Ziploc bags — can be used to hold and protect your cuttings . Here ’s a great step - by - tone guide for circulate woody bush . Keep it dewy-eyed , and treat it as an experimentation — expect some learning ( and rooting ) to hap !
Sterilize between cut if pruning susceptible plants . Your pruners are still in use this month as you wind up up pruning fountain - pants and broadleaf evergreens , fine - tune your fruit trees , and deadhead roses . Moving from one plant to another has the potency to spread bacterial or viral diseases in sure woody species . If you ’ve never sterilized your pruners , do n’t panic . Unless you work in a greenhouse , desex pruning hook between plant is only necessary in a few cases :
How to sterilize ? Pick a method that is commodious for you . My two preferred ways are ( 1 ) using Lysol or alcohol wipes , or ( 2 ) using a small spray bottle with alcoholic beverage ( 70 % grain alcohol or isopropyl ) to spray pruners ( by from plants ) , waiting a few seconds , and then wiping with a rag . My least preferred method is a pertly miscellaneous 10 % house blanching agent solution . It will sterilise , but it always results in confirmatory scathe — to my dress , my industrial plant , or in the form of rust on the pruner themselves .
Protect your Chuck Berry from thirsty birds . Near - ripened blueberry bush and blackberries are as tempt to bird as they are to you . athirst birds have faultless timing , so yours has to be better . Get ahead of them by netting shrub just as the first berries begin to turn color . Drape your shrubs with lightweight bird netting , and weigh down the ends with rocks or stakes . spineless blackberries can be covered in the same way once the first Chuck Berry set about to colorise . If your blackberry canes have spine that catch and rip nett , try alternatively tie strips of reflective material ( old company decorations , cut up mylar balloon , or lustrous curling ribbon ) to canes to spook at least some of the doll away from the buffet of berries .
— Paula Gross is the former adjunct conductor of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Botanical Gardens .
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Dividing and replanting is a good way to revitalize a cluster of bearded irises that no longer bloom as impressively as they once did.Photo: Paula Gross
These sweet coneflowers (Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Zones 4–8) are beautiful in full bloom in mid to late summer, but they look a little floppy. A Chelsea Chop earlier in the summer could have improved their structure.Photo: Paula Gross
Forsythia is a great candidate for propagation via softwood cuttings.Photo: Lynn Felici-Gallant
There are many ways to sterilize tools. You can make your own spray-on solution of 70% alcohol and 30% water.Photo: Paula Gross
These blueberries are almost ripe. The net protects them from being eaten by birds.Photo: Paula Gross
