Bed Of Iris Infiltrated By Liriope And Mondo Grass

Siberian iris

Q: I have a lovely bed of old and established iris. Unfortunately, I have allowed it to get infiltrated by liriope and mondo grass. How can I get rid of them? 

A: It is almost impossible to get rid of these two intruders selectively in a flower bed. You’re going to have to dig up the whole bed, save the iris roots, and use the resulting dirt in a less problematic spot. Then you can fill the bed with clean, high-quality soil and replant the iris. While you’re at it, remove and discard any rotten or dried-out roots. There is no need to clip the foliage into a fan. As long as it’s green, the iris needs it for photosynthesis.

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