A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2004 Irises and day lilies

I need to know the best time to cut back the foliage on irises and daylilies that have finished blooming. Should I wait til the foliage has gone all brown on both of these? Or is it OK to trim them down right after blooming?

It's a good idea to leave the "brown stuff" as it helps give energy back to the plant for the next growth period. If you didn't cut off the flowers when they were blooming you should have little balls where the flowers were. You can remove these and dry them for the seeds inside!

Hope this helps

Hi Ya Red!
How you been???
How's school???

I would have to say the same things Gardenmom says!
All that green stuff when it dies back is giving the plant its stored food for next year's growth and flower....

I know it's hard to leave that brown stuff on...
But the plant really needs it....

I sometimes suggest, if the person has the time and reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllly wants the brown gone,
to take your sissor's and JUST cut the brown, where it is just turning yellow by the green, leave the yellow!!!
And hand cut it off....
That way, it's a WIN~WIN SITUATION FOR BOTH plant AND GARDENER, tidie's up the brown and still leave the good stuff for the plant..
I do that on my side bed by the side walk area people see *the only bed I do that on*

Weezie