Stagger the planting of gladioli to enjoy new blossoms
The gladiolus produces a large, showy flower spike that lasts for several days, whether that be in the garden or in a vase.
To get the most out of a bloom for decoration inside, cut the flower when the lowest blossoms have begun to show color. Place the cut stem in water as quickly as you can.
Stagger the planting of gladioli to provide flowers over a longer period of time.
• Mid-August to mid-September is a good time to seed bare spots in your lawn. Choose a seed mix that is appropriate for the amount of sun at your site.
Grass grown from a mix blended for shade can look different from grass from a mix blended for sun. If your yard has adjoining areas of full sun, shade and partial shade, use a single mix of grass varieties for both sun and shade to give the lawn a uniform appearance.
Prepare the site for seeding by removing weeds and loosening the soil. Low areas will need additional topsoil. Rake out large clods, stones or debris to create a smooth seedbed. Then gently rake in the seed. Keep the soil moist. On warm days, this may require watering two or three times a day.
A light layer of compost spread over the soil helps keep seeds moist. Bluegrass takes about two weeks to germinate. It is important to keep the grass seed moist for successful germination. Watering can be scaled back to less frequent but deeper soakings as the new grass fills in.
When establishing a lawn by seed, you can expect weeds to come in before the grass can get fully established. You should mow a newly seeded lawn four times before treating with an herbicide for weeds. Pulling the weeds is also an option and can be done before mowing is necessary.
• Do not forget to check the oil and clean out the air filter on your lawn mower on a regular basis. The engine can be ruined by letting it run out of oil. It is also a good idea to sharpen the mower blades about every eight hours of use.
• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.