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Following on from our last blog about how wonderful iris in pots can look, how about giving your garden a touch of the quirky?

Consider using different and unusual containers to plant out your iris.  There’s a huge variety of things you can use, limited only by your imagination.  Many ideas also reuse containers that would otherwise go to landfill – a win-win all round!  Here’s a few suggestions –

• Plant out your iris in an old wheelbarrow – the older the better. And so easy to move to another part of the garden for that burst of colour once they are flowering.
• For a more permanent display, paint some old tyres in bold colours. Fill with good potting soil and create an abstract circular display.
• Old watering cans make great rustic display containers for your iris.
• In the garden at Sunshine Iris we have used an old washbasin to create a great feature in the garden. An old bath would give an even larger display.
• Old baskets and wooden crates make perfect planters. Just line them with some plastic first and make a few drainage holes in the bottom before adding your potting mix.
• Colourful plastic tubs or buckets also make a bright display. Just drill some holes in the base first.

Happy planting and feel free to share a photo of your quirky iris on our Facebook page when they flower.

As some of us downsize and others move into their first apartment – here’s a way to take your garden with you.  What about a blast of colour on your balcony or a welcoming container of potted iris at your front door?  Iris do very well in containers and now is a great time to plant up a pot or two.

If you have tall bearded iris, you need a pot at least 30cm in size – larger if you want to pack a bit of colour in there.   Choose a good quality potting mix and put your pots in an open sunny position where they will get some winter cold.  Plants in containers need to be watered a little more often, but be careful not to overwater. 

Irises in pots will also require a little more attention than those in the garden.  It is best to dig them up and divide each year after flowering in December or January.  This is also a good time to add some all-purpose fertiliser or Seasol.

Daylilies also do well in pots – a sunny aspect will bring out their best colours, particularly if it is a light coloured daylily.

Once the flowers start to appear, move your pot to the desired position, and wait for the compliments!