Question
--Thanks Tom for getting back to me.  As far as the iris problem, this may sound silly, but I don't remember what the roots look like, so when I go to dig them up will there be several roots and I just thin them out and then cut off "all" the leaves?  Now for the hydraghea, the bush in question is maybe 6 years old.  I've noticed some blooms coming in around the perimeter of the bush, but not the middle.  Also, should I be clipping the "dead" wood from it now.  I was afraid of losing any posible blooms by doing it earier?  I also have two younger bushes I received and then planted in the ground (the kind that come with a couple giant flowers on them) but they haven't bloomed again.  What do you think about them.  Thanks for taking the time.  Regina----------------------
Followup To
Question -
Tom,
I have two questions that hopefully you'll be able to help me with.
1.  My iris seem to be multiplying, but I didn't have any flowers this year.  What do I need to do?

2.  I have a large hydrangea which hasn't bloomed for two years. This year it seem to have blooms around the perimeter of the bush.  Any chance it will ever really bloom again?  Also I have a small plant which seems to be very healthy, but no blooms
at all.  What can I do?
Thanks
Answer -
Hi Regina,
Thanx for your question.

1.  When irises are too crowded the blooming becomes minimal.  In the late summer dig up all of the rhizomes (roots) chop off the leaves in a triangle pattern. Give away or sell what you don't want or put in a different area of the yard.  When you dig irises up, it will take 2-3 years (in general) for blooms.

2.  If you have a hydrangea which hasn't bloomed in years I would trim it out severely and make sure you remove all of the dead growth and cut back any suckers (new growth coming out of the ground next to the parent plant).  I would fertilize it with a fertilizer recommended for flowering shrubs (which you
can find at Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart and bigger nurseries).

I hope this helps.
Tom

Answer
Hi Regina,
Thanx for your questions.  Irises have very distict roots.  In fact, the term is rhizome.  When you see them branch out, separate the branches.  Some may not bloom next year.  It looks like a thick root.  Dig them all up, clean them (don't use a water hose, just scrape off the dirt).  In the South Midwest, you can plant them back in the garden as late as Halloween.  If you're in Iowa, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio,  plant the rhizomes before the end of September.

I always tell people, don't buy plants that are blooming or in the case of people who like tomatoes or peppers,  don't buy plants that have already set fruit.  It's hard to explain, but these plants have basically been forced at the nursery.  They didn't get a chance to grow, bloom and produce at a normal level.  You will get some fruit from these plants for a while and then they will crash and burn and die because a human being forced them.

As far as the hydrangea goes, trim it back severely after the last blooms, that means, cut back all dead growth and then cut back other growth which might contribute to messy growth.  The plant will recover and you should have some fine blooms next year.  I hope this helps.
Tom