How to Plant Gladiolus

Tall spikes of colorful gladiolus are beautiful in gardens and bouquets. Here's how you can have them all spring and summer long.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bulb Fertilizers
• Bulb Planters
• Garden Hoses And Attachments
• Gladiola Corms

1. Select varieties and types by flower color.

2. Purchase high-quality corms (bulbs), free of bruises or soft spots.

3. Arrange for delivery, or make your purchase, so you can plant in late winter to early spring (after the soil has thawed in cold-winter climates). For continuous bloom, plant every two weeks into midsummer.

4. Select a sunny planting location.

5. Prepare the soil, if necessary, by incorporating ample organic matter. Soil preparation is not always necessary if drainage is good.

6. Dig holes 3 to 6 inches deep. Plant larger corms at the deeper end of the range. Leave 2 to 4 inches between corms.

7. Add bulb fertilizer to the bottom of the hole and roughly mix it into the soil.

8. Place the corm in the hole, root side down (you should see remnants of last year's roots on the bottom, and the top is often cupped). The bottom of the corm should rest firmly on the bottom of the hole.

9. Water the planting thoroughly.

Tips & Warnings

• Gladiolus will form dense clumps if left in the ground year after year in mild-winter climates. In cold-winter climates, you must dig and store bulbs after bloom; replant them in spring.

• There are many helpful tools specifically designed for planting bulbs. Some make perfect holes by removing small cylinders of soil. An auger-like tool can be attached to electric drills. These are particularly useful when planting a lot of bulbs.

• There are hardy types of gladiolus that can be left in the ground year after year, even in cold-winter climates.

• If you are planting a lot of gladiolus, dig large trenches instead of individual holes. Place the corms in the bottom of the trench and fill it in with soil.