Iris – Trimming Leaves

Q: I have some old iris in my pine bed. Most of the leaves stay green all winter but have some brown edges. Should I trim the leaves or is it too late?

A: I don’t think you should ever trim the leaves unless they are dead. Trimming green leaves just reduces photosynthesis. Use scissors to cut the brown part out of each leaf. To get the best blooms, feed with a slow-release fertilizer (Milorganite, Osmocote, Dynamite) in April and again in mid-summer.