Irises are typically low-maintenance as long as they’re planted in full sun and well-drained soil. Getting them into the soil, though, can be a pain. To plant irises, you’re recommended to dig 10-inch holes about 4-5 inches deep. That’s a lot of manual labor, especially since irises should be planted singly, and then divided when they branch out enough to smother their own bloom production and vitality. To make the process of planting your irises exponentially easier, there’s a convenient shovel trick making the rounds of TikTok that’ll cut down the process of breaking ground. In almost one fluid movement, you can create an “X” in the soil with your shovel, gently lift the dirt, and get the iris firmly planted.
If you’ve decided against some of the more rigorous aspects of gardening due to being unable to complete the physical tasks, finding a more adaptable way to partake in this popular hobby is a godsend. Not everyone is able to perform all of the bending, lifting, and kneeling required for most planting, so this TikTok hack doesn’t just make it easier to plant irises, it makes it more adaptable.
How to plant a baby iris plant according to TikTok
@karissaathome
@Hobbyhandwerk_YouTube thank you for sharing this hack! Let’s hope this baby iris is happy here 🌸 gardening gardentok gardeninghacks gardeningtips
♬ You Are My Sunshine – Zach Bryan
Forget the back-breaking work of shoveling up the dirt of your yard. If you want to plant a baby iris quickly and painlessly, TikTok has the answer. Simply center your shovel over the spot where you want to put your iris, then step on the end of the shovel blade to push into the soil. Turn the shovel 90 degrees and repeat this action, creating a cross — or an “X” — over the spot where the plant will go.
Once that is done, move your shovel to the end of one of the “X” lines, spanning one of the wedges these two crossed marks make. Step on your shovel blade again, this time putting enough leverage on the handle to pull the dirt up just enough that the “X” separates to the depth of the marks you made. The intersection of your “X” will be opened up at this point, and you can gently place your baby iris plant inside the hole. Release your hold on the shovel and pull it out of the dirt, watching as your soil closes back over the now-planted iris. It’s as easy as that. You can do this over and over again, for as many irises as you want, in short order. From that point on, simply keep up watering your plants on the schedule irises require to establish themselves and thrive throughout the season.
