Q.gladiolus in zone 9
My gladiolus is planted in zone 9. They are done blooming, and I want to dig them up for storage & replant my bed for summer. Everyone says to wait till the foliage dies back. That never happens till winter in my area even w/o watering. How can I force them to become dormant without hurting them? How long after flowering is finished should I wait before I can do this?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Unfortunately, digging your gladiolus up now will probably kill them, unless you plant them promptly in a new spot. Flowering uses up a lot of energy, and after flowering, the gladiolus use their leaves to store energy in the bulb for the following year, which is why it's best to wait until the leaves die back before digging them up for storage. It might be possible to dig them up in late summer or so, but that might inhibit them from flowering the following year.
