Do bearded iris ALWAYS do well in raised beds?

I know they are supposed to but mine got grown over by other vegetation and were sun starved for months. They lost many of their leaves and some of the rhizomes are mushy. The soil has a lot of rotted compost in it but I figure that being raised that the drainage would compensate for that. Some that had sun seem to be doing very well. I want to line them up in the back boarder for next year. Is this a good idea if I allow only low growing plants for next spring? Will adding sand help? I want them in this location so I can see them every day while they are in bloom. But I also don't want to waste the 50 dollars I just spent on iris ethier. Here is one of the beauties http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...

Do bearded iris ALWAYS do well in raised beds?
I think bearded iris do well anywhere, I've just thrown them down (raised bed or not) and they've grown where they lay. Very hardy flowers.





It sounds like you've got something more going on, perhaps something is eating them? I've never had a problem like that, but I've never composted around my flowers. Mine are in raised and level beds. Also, there are quite a few growing right on the edge of my mom's pond behind her house and they do quite well there despite the damp.
Reply:Thank you!! Report It

Reply:Iris need good drainage which is why they do do better in a raised bed. One way to compensate for this would be to do a sandy mixture. Water the 1st two weeks after planting and then they don't need much watering(about 1x every 2 weeks). Also do not mulch as the rhizome's will rot. Report It

Reply:they also thrive on a futon.