How to Grow Gladiolus & Avoid Them Being Eaten

Look for a ground location in the spring, typically around May. Choose a location in full sun and sandy loam soil composition. The soil should never remain soggy, but stay slightly damp for the best gladiolus growth. It’s best to choose location near a home or wall to protect the tall spikes from wind damage.

Position a tiller at the edge of the gladiolus planting site and lower the blade depth to 12 inches. Push the tiller over the site to loosen up the soil.

Spread an 8-8-8 granular fertilizer over the tilled soil using 2 pounds for every 100 square feet of space. Retill the soil to mix the fertilizer in well .

Dig holes in the planting site using a hand trowel and making them 1 inch deep for small corms and up to 6 inches deep for large corms. The top of the corms should be 1 inch under the soil at the proper depth.

Insert the gladiolus corms into the holes with the point facing upward and cover them with soil. Plant additional gladiolus corms 1 to 3 inches apart for small corms and 3 to 6 inches apart for large corms.

Place a bird netting over the ground in the planting site to prevent squirrels and other animals from digging up the gladiolus corms. Insert landscape stakes along the edge of the netting to hold it down .

Water the soil to a 1-inch depth once per week if no other rainfall occurs in your area.

Insert a bamboo stake behind each stalk once it emerges from the soil and tie the stalks loosely to the stake with gardening tape to support them.

Monitor the stalks for animal damage once they emerge and sprinkle blood meal around the soil to repeal the animals. In addition, spray the foliage and flowers with an animal replant spray repeating the application after each rainfall.

Wait until the upper portions of the gladiolus stems turn brown at frost and then dig up the corms using a trowel. Shake off excess dirt and dust the corms with a fungicide powder. Cut the dead foliage off 1 inch above the corms with hand pruners and store them indoors until spring. Choose an indoor location that is dry and stays above freezing.