QUESTION:

Dear Coach Anne,

I put some bearded irises in last fall. They bloomed beautifully this spring. Now in November they are blooming again. Isn't that a little late for northern Illinois? Should I cut the flower stems off? Can I still expect blooms in the spring? They were not marked as reblooming, bought locally at end of season, not from you but I trust your expertise. Please advise. Thank you, (4 days ago it was 70, today 37).

ANSWER:

Our weather vagaries are driving us crazy along with our garden plants! I would leave the flower stalks on the plant until they wither up. You could safely leave them until your spring cleanup. A fresh cut stem might allow freeze to travel inside down to the rhizomes and kill them.

Thanks for visiting The Plant Coach!