Gladioli advice

Dempo1

Hi all,

My garden full of various shrubs, primarily evergreen but have some flowering plants, Hydrangea, Chinese Peony and varieties of sunflowers.

Tried something completely new this year, Gladioli (I think), they came up beautifully.

I've read bulbs can be dug out and stored over winter and not to be tempted to cut back foliage after flowering, allow natural breakdown etc.

Would it however be wise to cut away the flowering stem now when flowers die. I've some still blooming, some with the flowering stem withering.

Thoughts appreciated

Jim_Hodge

Don't cut them back until the stems have withered fully, as the corm needs to build up energy reserves. As for lifting them: It depends on the variety but most need lifting. I gave up on them for this reason. I left the last lot in the ground and one or two pop up mist tears.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117785134#Comment_117785134

Thanks Jim, I'll hold off then, I'm thinking I might leave in the ground, I normally lay a fresh layer of bark mulch in my beds after a loosening of soil, weeding etc. I'm thinking the mulch will protect against frost.