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Gladiolus means "little sword" in Latin. This name and the common name, sword lily, refer to the pointed, blade shaped leaves produced by this plant. Despite its popularity as a cut flower, gladiolus with its strong, upright growth and one-sided spikes of flowers often looks somewhat awkward in the garden. A single row of glads, each leaning in a different direction, does not contribute a positive effect. Try planting glads in groups among other plants, and make sure they do not fall over. Corms should be planted from early February through early March. Since the bloom time of each plant is rather short, gardeners often plant a succession of corms at 2 week intervals to provide a longer bloom period. Early planting ensures that the corms will bloom before the intense heat of summer, and they will be less likely to suffer severe damage from gladiolus thrips. Plant in well prepared beds with excellent drainage. Glads need 6 to 8 hours of sun to grow strong stems and stay upright. These plants usually look best when planted in groups among lower growing shrubs or herbaceous perennials. If plants begin to fall over, they must be staked. Watch for stippling in the foliage or flowers. This is damage caused by gladiolus thrips, the major pest of glads. Spray with acephate, carefully following label directions. Glads left in the ground will sometimes rebloom, especially if the bed is well drained, although they most often play out in a couple of years. Corms can be dug up when the foliage yellows in late summer, stored in a frost-free location, and planted out the next year.
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