In Indianapolis (USDA Zone 6a/6b), you should dig up your canna lilies after the first light frost, but before a hard freeze. Here’s a simple timeline and guide for you:
Typical timing: Late October to early November in Indianapolis.
Wait until the first light frost has blackened the leaves—this signals the plant to go dormant.
Don’t wait too long after that, or the rhizomes could be damaged by a hard freeze (temps below 25°F).
Cut back the foliage to about 4–6 inches after frost.
Gently dig up the clumps of rhizomes with a garden fork, being careful not to cut into them.
Shake off the soil (don’t wash them) and let them air-dry in a warm, airy spot for 2–3 days.
Store in peat moss, sawdust, or newspaper inside a cardboard box or paper bag.
Keep them in a cool, dark, and dry place—around 40–50°F, like a basement or unheated closet.
In spring, replant after danger of frost—usually mid- to late May in Indianapolis. You can even pot them up indoors in April if you want an early start.
I recently decided to plant additional seeds in my front yard to enhance its appearance. Unfortunately, many of the plants from last year did not return, leaving me with several bare spots that needed attention. To fill these gaps, I sowed more sunflower seeds along with a variety of other seeds. I like to think of my garden as a "chaos garden" since I can hardly remember all the different plants I’ve included. The excitement of watching them grow is something I truly look forward to!
As summer approaches, I found myself feeling a bit anxious to finalize my plantings. Time seems to be slipping away quickly, and I want to make sure everything is in place before the warmer weather fully arrives. On a positive note, some of the canna plants from last year are beginning to re-emerge, promising a colorful display in August.
In addition to planting, I also took the opportunity to reposition the badminton net to the center of the yard. I hadn’t realized how skewed it was until I moved it! To add a unique touch, I decided to allow the grass to grow long beneath the net. I'm curious to see how this will look as it could create an interesting contrast with the neatly trimmed areas of the yard. Overall, I am eager for the garden to flourish and for summer to bring its vibrant beauty.
The Gardening Log: Yesterday, when I came home, I mowed the front yard. Tomorrow is the backyard. I planted sunflowers and cosmos around the fire pit. Tomorrow, I need to rip out some more daylilies to make room for additional plants. I also need to get planting with the elephant ears and cannas. Where will I put them?
Yesterday for gardening, I planted some more clover and ground cover. I dug up some poison ivy and moved another salvia. I have five in a row now. My next challenge is preparing the soil and the patch for the new wildflowers I am going to plant. Maybe sunflowers? Actually, I think I will focus on weeding this week because I will be gone for the weekend. It was supposed to rain next weekend, but now it is not, so I can't really plant anything new. Oh! I can plant the Canna and the elephant ear. They don't need to be watered daily. I have to figure out where to put them.
I really like the pretty white flowers of the onions I planted last year. They turned out to be such a lovely addition to the garden that I ...
