glad experts

my glads bloomed in may-june and, until lately, had nice green foliage. But the last 2 weeks they've been looking ratty right and it's driving me crazy. looking at this pic, would you say they are spent enough that I can this my glads a haircut?

voss, it's always a good idea to let the foliage of any bulb die back completely. The food goes back into the bulb and helps to build the bulb for the next flowering season.

Someone will come along and say they always cut it back and theirs do fine. I'm not sure about any glads that have to be lifted doing well the next season, some will live in the ground for a while, others not.

Since they often don't do well again and you don't like the looks of them you could give them the chop.

Perhaps this is the advantage of species glads! I wouldn't cut off species, the stem helps protect the bulb and keep out excess water. They generally release the dead foliage naturally and it can be pulled off, and as it is mostly thinner I don't think it is so noticable.

I agree with Wallaby.....however, you can go by the spot oce or twice a week and only trim off the dead leaves.....keeps it looking kind of green. Then again, I have never seen a garden that looked "perfect" ALL the time unless it was planted in silks. On a hot and sticky day and working in the garden, we may not look all that spiffy either. If you want to save the bulbs, then this is what you have to go through.

vossner,

This late in the season it's OK to cut them down. I have been chopping mine down recently too due to looking ratty. Mine bloom mostly in May and June and I have not planted any for more than 3 years...but the ones I planted before that time keep coming back. With Glad corms (which are related to crocuses, etc) the old corm shrivels up and the new one (or ones) generally form on top of the old one. You could dig one up and see if you have a nice new corm formed, and I would bet you do. Sometimes dozens of little cormlets will form along the sides of the mother bulb, as well, and these will increase in size over the years as well. They're pretty tough bulbs and seem to tolerate moisture better than a lot of the spring-planted bulbs do (not that they like waterlogged soil though). Glads return pretty well in this area and likely yours as well. I would say you're safe cutting them.

thanks, everyone. Steve I will go look for corms. You're right about them tolerating moisture. they happen to be in the low point in my property. water drains well, but not as fast as other points, yet glads do well there.
I don't mess w/ the daff foliage. I let those die completely w/o a 2nd thought, but the glad greenery is so big/long!

I may start cleaning the dead stuff first, as bleek suggests, but when I start pacing the area with shears in hand, I know I won't be able to restrain myself, lol.