How to Plant a Gladiolus Bulb: The Top or Bottom?

If you're new to gardening the gorgeous gladioli, you might be a little awed by its sheer grandeur. And you certainly want to do everything just right to increase the likelihood of waves of color gracing your landscape this season. What may seem to be a simple, silly question to veteran gardeners can cause the novice to lose sleep. The most intimidating fear that you may have could be of asking someone which side of the glad bulb is the top.

Compost, peat moss or well-rotted manure
Balanced 8-8-8 fertilizer
Organic mulch such as compost, grass clippings or straw

Instructions

- 1
  Choose a fertile, well-draining location in full sun to plant your gladiolus bulbs. Pick a spot that is protected from strong winds.
- 2
  Apply 2 to 3 inches of compost, peat moss or well-rotted manure to the garden bed. Add 2 lbs. of a balanced 8-8-8 fertilizer per 100 square feet of garden soil. Follow the packaging instructions carefully.
- 3
  Cut or till the amendments into the top 10 to 12 inches of soil.
- 4
  Plant the gladiolus bulbs with the pointed sides up. Plant large bulbs 6 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches apart, medium bulbs 4 to 5 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart and small bulbs 3 inches deep and 2 to 3 inches apart.
- 5
  Water the gladiolus bed thoroughly to soak it well, but not so much that it's soggy or wet. Glads need about an inch of water each week throughout the growing season.
- 6
  Apply an inch or two of organic mulch such as compost, grass clippings or straw. This will help retain moisture and go a long way toward preventing weed growth.
- 7
  Apply another pound of fertilizer on top of the mulch when bloom spikes begin to form. Water it into the soil thoroughly. Don't get any of the fertilizer on the plants.
- 8
  Cut blooming glad spikes freely for your indoor arrangements, but use the foliage sparingly. The plants need the leaves for making food.

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