**FULL QUESTION**
Dear Gardening Life,
What is the best time to move irises after they've bloomed?
*—Nancy*
**ANSWER**
Hi Nancy,
You can move or divide bearded irises (*Iris germanica*) in late summer (early fall in milder areas of the country). They need six weeks or so before frost for optimum root development. Siberian irises (*I. sibirica*) are best moved (and/or divided) in early spring as they are shooting up or in autumn. They benefit from a summer’s growth to replenish their reserves. Keep the transplants or divisions moist and replant them as quickly as possible. (See our illustrated How-to guide to dividing bearded irises.)
*—Karen York, GL Botanical Editor*
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