Controlling Irises in pond

[elozabet]

Looking for advice regarding my pond. My wildlife pond is gradually being overrun by irises. They are lovely but they have now encroached almost half the pond and I need to stop them getting any further. How do I dig up the irises without damaging the lining of the pond? I have pulled up smaller, stray ones round the edges but I can just pull the ones in the middle of the pond (not strong enough or they are too attached/too heavy ?). The pond is about 15 years old so quite established and thriving.

Every few years we used to drag the iris out and saw off some of the roots to resize it.
Doing this really stunk, nearly broke my back and I nearly fell in.
No idea if it's an approved method but it worked and the iris never died.
I'd always leave to cut off bits beside the pond for a day or so to allow all the bugs to head back into the pond.

PS: you might need to get into the pond!!!

I have a tiny pond which is now virtually entirely iris, I had no idea that they would spread this much so following with interest...

I have a very small wildlife pond and I took the iris out earlier in the year as they were far too big. They were in a floating island planter so trying to get the clump out and cut it down was impossible.

I just took the whole thing out, advertised it on the local recycling website and a lady came and took it. I have replaced the iris with smaller plants and the pond now looks much nicer.

That’s pretty much what I do, but worried I may cut the lining of the pond if I cut them. It’s not so bad when they aren’t underwater as not so heavy.
I do get in the pond and stand in the middle ! I also do this to reduce the lilies which have also taken over.

Always plant them in baskets. It restrains them a bit. Digging out is the only answer I’m afraid.

Bit late to plant in baskets! They were already in when we moved in the house. To be honest, they are lovely and I just need maintenance to stop them taking over. It took a while to get on top of the pond and worked out doing less is better but every two years I do a massive cut back which needs to happen this year. I just know I struggled to dig up the irises last time from the middle of the pond as couldn’t pull them up and the roots were so heavy. Round the edge I cut the roots or pulled them up.

@elozabet I only mentioned baskets in case anyone reading this was wanting some irises! In fact nearly all garden pond plants should be in baskets.

I also thought you had planted and made the pond. To be honest they are thugs, like large water lilies. When our village pond became overrun with plants (some stupid villagers had put in far too many flowering plants when wildlife likes reeds) the only solution was a digger. When old and woody you don’t have many options and you might need to re line the pond. Such is pond maintenance!

That’s ok, the baskets is a good plan for any future planting.
I think I’m just getting the waders on in the autumn and tackling as best I can. It’s a good bit of exercise! Hopefully I won’t cut the lining, but either way, they have to be cut back otherwise I won’t have a pond left if I don’t.

thanks for the advice.