Crocosmia, bee balm and lavender are among plants columnist JoAnne Skelly will move to more sunlight. Credit: Photo by JoAnne Skelly

I have a new gardening goal this fall doing something I haven’t done in a long time. I’m going to create a new flower bed. I’m excited. With so much of our yard in shade I have quite a few plants, such as some beautiful deep purple bearded iris, that need more sun.

JoAnne Skelly

One of the only plantable sunny areas is east of our patio where the horse trough I planted with flowers this year is surrounded by a mulched area and then lawn. It receives sun for at least six hours a day and has no tree roots impeding digging. 

I also have some other plants that will do better if moved to a sunnier location. These include crocosmia, bee balm and lavender. The crocosmia and bee balm are bright red in color and are loved by the hummingbirds, so I definitely want them to thrive. As far as succession of bloom and heights, the irises will begin the spring color parade at about two feet tall.

They will be followed by crocosmia and beebalm that may reach three feet. The lower growing lavender will be a nice filler blooming a bit later. I can picture the colors at the edge of the lawn, in the perfect spot to see the birds and butterflies from the kitchen window.

I read that the best time to transplant bearded iris is July or August while bee balm is late summer or early spring. Personally, I don’t think transplanting here in the high desert in July or August is a great idea when it’s hot with high intensity sun and strong winds.

So, I’m going to do it now when it’s cooler and the soil is still warm. First, I will dig up the bed area about a foot deep and wide and then mix in compost. Iris and bee balm are rhizomes and are planted shallowly, although any existing feeder roots will need depth.

Iowa State University recommends planting them on a mound in a trench barely below the soil surface while spreading the roots down into the trench. Crocosmia are corms, slightly different from bulbs, and they are planted 3 to 5 inches deep about 6 to 8 inches apart. 

It may take a couple of years after transplanting for the iris to bloom, but I should get a quicker bloom with the bee balm. The crocosmia should bloom mid-summer next year. 

I will have a new flower bed!

— JoAnne Skelly is an Associate Professor and Extension Educator, Emerita, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at skellyj@unr.edu.