Question
QUESTION: I planted gladiola bulbs in diff area in my yard.  Some have come up and some havent.  I thought it may be because i didnt keep the ground wet enough.  Have i lost them for good or is there something i can do to get them to come up?

My zinnias were started from seed.  Some are big and bushy with lots of shoots with blooms.  Some are skinny with no stems goin up the sides. Some are turning yellow and brown.  I sprayed with a funguside and bug
spray and  it helped  a little with the yellow spots.  some of the zinnias got some weed killer on them.  most of these that were sprayed died quickly.  Some are still fighting.  Is there anything i can do or should i just puul
them out?

Thank you so much!Jamie"


ANSWER: Hi Jamie,
Thanx for your questions.  Before I try to answer them, may I ask where you're located?
thx,
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: kindergarten teacher-happy to be on summer break in Mississippi
Ive cut back some of my skinny ziinnia to make them more bushy.

Answer
Hi Jamie,
Thanx for the additional information.  Wait another week or so for the rest of your gladioli corms to sprout.  Sometimes they sprout sporadically.  The ground should be moist but not soggy.  You should get enough rain in Mississippi that you don't have to water them a lot.  They love it hot and slightly moist.  You can still plant more gladioli as it takes about 90 days from planting for bloom.  As for the zinnias, they are very much prone to powdery mildew and fungus especially if planted to closely together and watered from overhead.  Try to water at ground level and make sure they have room to breathe around each other.  Remove diseased and dead plants at once and burn them so they don't transfer the disease to another spot in the garden or compost.  I hope this helps.
Tom