basic gardening question

[red_lynx]

On my perennials - how close to the ground should I cut dead foliage from last year? Some examples are lilies and gladioli.

Comments

[fizzygeek]

Most non woody perrenials can be safely cut to the ground. As far as the glads, the corms are supposed to be dug up and stored over the winter....they're not perrenial this far north, but they may be okay because we had a relatively mild winter this year.

[red_lynx]

Good to know!
What about hen and chicks that have "bolted"? (I use that term because they look like lettuce that has, they've sent up seed pods skyward) Can I cut those down?

[dcseain]

In Dale City, where i grew up, gladiolas did fine over the winter; i guess the proximity to the Potomac kept it just warm enough.

[mommyrex]

ditto ours in Greenbelt ...

or you can do my husband method

[wolfdancer]

Run it over with the lawn mower, then let it do what it will for the rest of the year.