The gladiolus are looking great but are falling on the ground. Can I stake them up without hurting them?
Yes, you can stake them for additional support without harming the plants.
I planted gladiolus years ago. I have never dug them up and they come back every year. This year there is an area I want to change and I will need to dig the gladiolus up. I want to make sure I do it right. But in reading the information, it states to dig up gladiolus every year. I just wanted to know if this was true.
These plants only need to be dug up in colder regions. In your area, the bulbs do not need to be dug up and stored for winter; however, in zones 6 to 7, they thrive better if the bulbs are protected by a thick mulch throughout the winter. After moving them where you want, simply leave them be and they will continue to reproduce each year, dividing them once they become overcrowded.
Do the bulbs have to be dug up or can they be left where they are?
Once they are finished flowering, cut back the flower stem as far as you can, to the ground even, but allow the leaves to remain and die back naturally. If you live in a cooler region, say zone 6 or below, you need to dig them up in fall and store them for replanting next season. For warmer areas of zone 7 (with mulch) or above, you can simply leave them where they are and they will continue to reproduce each year and you can divide them once they become overcrowded.
Have been trying to remove hardy glads from flower bed for several years. Two years ago I tried to catch the 'babies' by putting soil through a screen. To no avail, they continue to come up each spring. Any suggestions would be appreciated. (live in Zone 5, glads are planted along southside of home, don't lift in winter).
Are you sure they are glads? It is unusual for them to survive winters in your zone. Also, these plants are not generally prone to being so aggressive as far as their growing and cormas can normally be easily removed. You may need to dig up the bed in its entirety to fully remove this plant or spot treat any pop-ups with Roundup.
How to cut gladiolus flowers.
Once they are finished flowering, cut back the flower stem as far as you can, to the ground even, but allow the leaves to remain and die back naturally.
How to cut gladiolus for vases.
Cut flower stems in morning or evening (following regular watering) at an angle and submerge into water right away. For more information, this artivle will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/fgen/how-to-keep-flowers-fresh-after-cutting.htm
I found glad bulbs I bought on sale and forgot them. It is almost Sept. in Minnesota and I know if I plant them all their energy will go to new growth. So they would be shot for winter? Will they make it till next spring? Anything I can do?
They likely will not make it through the winter. I think your best shot would be to plant them in containers indoors and let them sprout indoors. If they can get even a few weeks of foliage growth to replenish their energy stores, they will have a chance to make it to the following spring.
But, I would not expect very big blossoms from them next spring. They will be working on a minimal amount of stored energy, which will result in a sub-par bloom.