I'd like to know what the ground cover growing in the background is. I have that in my flowerbeds and I really like it, but don't know what it is. My apologies, I don't mean to hijack your thread. :)

I want to do the exactly the same thing. I don't know if Donna is still on this forum so has anyone else tried Roundup (Glyphosate) when canna are dormant? I let my small bed of canna get out of hand over the past few years and it is now huge. Ok, HUGE! It is by the edge of the lake, so that is all fine and they have multiplied like crazy, but the bed is full, full, FULL of weeds. I should have done it last winter but didn't make it. So the plan, next winter, as soon as those canna are dormant, is to attack the whole bed with roundup. I'm wondering if I should lift (at least some) of my canna to be on the safe side. I'm also wondering if I should lift some now and just do the project now. It is way in the back of my yard, down by the water, but because I live on a lake, it is a real eyesore for anyone looking over this way. But my canna are already up though, so I can't just spray willy-nilly. I either have to lift the canna, or pull the weeds by hand, or wait until next winter. Thoughts? Thanks in advance for the advice! Carol in Jacksonville

Plant canna bulbs at a fairly shallow depth. I'm sure there are lots of opinions on this, but for me, about an inch of soil above the rhyzome works. As for you, just plant the rhyzome at the correct depth. There are buds on the rhyzome that will eventually turn into plant stems. Keep those underground with the rest of the rhyzome. Now obviously, if the bud has grown and created a small stem, then by all means, have the vertical stem coming out of the ground. In the end, just make sure the entire rhyzome is under ground. Great plant the canna. Even if you mis-plant it. Chances are it will grow just fine.

Deanna, thank you for your generous offer. But I have a ton of seeds - the problem is I think they are too old for good germination. I think I am going to try direct sowing ALL of them. I figure I might get something out of them. I have Crego and about 100 other varieties. Okay, obviously 'm exaggerating, but I do have about 25 kinds! I just read recently that these can be succession-sown. I had never heard that before, and don't quite trust that for some reason, but might give it a try. Or maybe I should try it NEXT year, lol - the ones I'm sowing now are actually probably when I'd sow the second batch! Good luck! :) Dee