The flowers of the cockerel, scallops, or more scientific - irises, are so popular that even a child can recognize them in the photo. They grow in almost every yard, and all because they are very decorative and completely unpretentious. With the help of irises, you can fence paths and form hedges. Without exaggeration, this flower is just a godsend for the gardener.
- Cockerel flowers
- Where to plant them
- Light and place
- The soil
- Planting irises
- In the spring
- In the autumn
- How to care for flowers
- Plant Diseases and Pests
Cockerel flowers
The flowers of the cockerel, or as they are called - iris, belong to the genus of perennial plants Iris or Iris. There are more than 700 varieties of these beautiful flowers, which amaze with amazing forms of buds and a variety of colors.
Irises are rhizomatous and bulbous. Also, plants differ in the form of buds, there are bearded ones, which are commonly called cockerels because of the characteristic tuft, and unbordered: marsh, Siberian, iris spuria.
The leaves most often have a xiphoid shape, thin, elastic, covered with a waxy bloom; leaves of a linear shape are less common. They gather in bunches around the peduncle.
Large single buds can be of various shapes and various colors, some have a light pleasant honey aroma. Flowering begins in late spring and continues until July, and some varieties bloom again in September. 
Where to plant them
As with the planting of any perennial, you need to consider where it is better to plant the plant. To do this, you need to know that the irises have a feature each year to shift a few centimeters from the original place and quickly grow.
Light and place
A large amount of light - the key to success in growing scallops, with good lighting, you get the maximum size and duration of flowering.
On shaded areas, the plant feels uncomfortable and may not bloom at all. It is necessary to take into account the fact that excessive moisture is undesirable for these flowers, therefore, the best flower beds for planting are high beds, areas on slopes and elevations. 
At the same time, plants should be protected from strong winds and drafts, since, if present, the stems can break off.
The soil
Irises prefer a neutral or slightly alkaline soil; when planting in acidic soils, it is necessary to add lime, chalk or ash to neutralize acidity.
For planting bearded species, it is necessary to make good drainage, since stagnation of water can severely harm the plant. Before planting, the ground should be well loosened and remove all weeds. Fertile, rich soils are ideal for planting.
Planting irises
There is no specific guidance on when to plant irises; this can be done both in spring and in autumn, given certain nuances.
In the spring
Do not neglect pre-preparation. You should carefully inspect the tuber and, if necessary, remove areas on which rot has formed, and cut too long roots.
Then, it will not be superfluous to disinfect it in a solution of potassium permanganate; to do this, mix the preparation with water to a pale pink color and hold the planting material in it for 30-40 minutes.
This is not a complicated procedure to help avoid further problems with the development of the plant.Another secret of a successful planting is that the root can be kept for 30 minutes in the solution of "Karbofos", due to this, the plant will create a stable immunity to pests. The depth of the landing hole for bearded species should be proportional to the tuber, it should not be dredged too much, the tip should rise above the ground.
When planting unbordered irises, the root should be carefully covered with soil. If you plan to plant several plants nearby, you must observe a distance of not less than 60 cm between them.
In the autumn
In fact, the autumn planting is not much different from the spring. Roots are also recommended to sanitize and remove rotting areas. Let's call it hygienic procedures that will protect the plant in the future. 
As for the depth and interval of planting irises, then almost everything coincides with the spring. The only thing to consider is that the tubers should be planted mainly at the end of summer and a maximum in the first week of September, so the plant will root well before the cold, and we will get the desired result. 
How to care for flowers
It seems impossible, looking at the enchanting flowers of the rooster in the photo, that planting and caring for them is not difficult, but it really is.
Regular watering is necessary for plants only in very dry weather during the period of bud formation. In the future process of the growing season, you can enjoy the decorative leaves and not to carry out water treatments. 
Regarding feeding the plant is not very demanding. You can make phosphate-potassium fertilizers in the spring, if the soil, in your opinion, is not sufficiently saturated.
It will not be superfluous to make a complex mineral fertilizer in the fall. But in the period of flowering irises are absolutely not recommended any feeding.
Plant Diseases and Pests
Chickens are strong and stable, but it happens that they can be damaged by diseases or insects. Problems may occur due to excessive moisture, the root may start to rot.
In this case, you should immediately dig up the plant and use a knife to remove the rotted parts, sanitize and dry the root in the sun. Often gardeners are faced with such a disease of irises, as spotting.
In order for the leaves to remain healthy and they are not overtaken by this disease, it is desirable to spray them with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. 
If foliage and flowers wilted and turned yellow, this can be a symptom of the appearance of scoops. These pests affect peduncles, eating them from the inside.
In order to avoid their appearance in your flower bed, experts advise to carry out preventive spraying with "Karbofos" every 2-3 weeks during the growing season. 
Another uninvited guests that can harm your iris are gladiolus thrips.that most often attack flowers in dry weather. They disrupt the metabolic processes of the plant, after which the foliage turns yellow, and the buds fade and die. 
Spraying "Karbofos" is also effective for combating these pests. Slugs can cause significant damage to cockerels. To combat them use "metaldehyde" in the granules.
The procedure is carried out in the absence of precipitation in the early morning.The drug must be scattered between plants, approximately 40 g per 10 square meters.
With the observance of simple rules of agricultural engineering and the implementation of a number of necessary procedures, it is possible to achieve an amazing result - the irises will bloom abundantly and delight you with their elegant beauty for many years. 
Interestingly, these perennials need transplantation no more than once every 4-5 years. So experiment with shapes and colors and easily create incredible flower beds with the help of these unpretentious plants.
