Question
I live in Illinois and was just given a large amount of irises. My question is can I wait until spring to plant the majority of theses.

Answer
Hi Jackie

I'm guessing that these are not water iris, but the ones with large rhizomes - they look like very swollen roots, which lie just under or even on top of the soil, or they may be the type that grow from bulbs.  I'll advise you on both types to cover all the bases!

As you are in Zone 5 I think it would be best to wait until next spring to plant.

First the Rhizome type - To keep them over the winter, cut off all the stems, remove as much soil from the rhizomes as possible and check them over for damage or rot.  

Where you find signs of rot (soft, mushy spots), cut them out with a very clean, sharp garden knife and dust the area with a fungicide powder.  Where there are areas of damage, for example, a cut where the spade caught the rhizomes when they were being dug up, as long as the cut is clean and showing no sign of rot, just dust with the fungicide powder.

Set the rhizomes aside somewhere cool and dry for a few days or until there are no more signs of damp on them and then place them in boxes or trays of slightly damp, spend compost (or similar) for the winter.  Again put them somewhere dry and cool (the basement, if you have one, a free corner in the garage, or even a covered porch are ideal).

Check them over periodically and if any signs of rot appear treat as described above.

If a rhizome begins to look wrinkled and feel a bit soft, plunge it into a bucket of tepid water for an hour or until it looks (and feels) plump and firm again.  Dry it off and return it to the the compost.   

Come spring plant them out in a sunny spot. Scrape depressions in the soil and place the rhizomes so that when you cover them up the upper half is visible above the ground (the rhizomes need a good baking by the sun to flower well).  That doesn't mean they don't need to be watered -
so keep the ground around them damp, especially if you have a dry spell.

The type that grow from bulbs - Cut off the stems (if there are any left) and store the bulbs somewhere dry and cool as described above.  Check them over periodically and if you see any sign of rot (usually at the base of the bulb), dust with a fungicide powder.  Come spring plant them out at a depth of about three times their height.

OK - to calculate that - measure the height of the bulb and multiply by 3, the answer is the depth in inches at which you should plant them!  (Easy hey!).  Chose a sunny  position in your garden.

I hope you have a great display of these lovely flowers next year!