Six months with Gladiolus — what I actually learned

I brought Gladiolus home six months ago with high hopes and almost no knowledge. The first challenge was understanding adding grit to the planting hole in heavy clay soils — something I hadn't expected to matter so much. Once I got that right, the whole thing settled down.

I grow it in a mixed border with later-emerging perennials to hide dying foliage and the position has been ideal. increasing clump size year on year when well established is what keeps drawing me back to it. planting new bulbs in autumn for next year's display was the moment that made me glad I persisted through the learning curve. One honest warning: bulb rot from waterlogging in poorly drained soil caught me off guard in month two. Stay on top of it from the start.