I covered my iris rhizomes with a good layer of soil when I split them in August just to protect them: when June came and not one flower opened, I understood what I had buried
A gardener’s protective instinct to bury iris rhizomes deep in soil backfires spectacularly come June, when neighbors’ irises explode with color while yours produce only green leaves. The secret lies in understanding that bearded iris rhizomes need to bask at the soil surface, not hide beneath it—and one simple fix can save next year’s blooms.