When cultivating a cut flower garden, it’s essential to keep in mind that most species require rich soil with plenty of sun exposure. Furthermore, group your plants according to their specific cultural requirements for maximum efficiency.
Annual cut flowers such as cosmos, larkspur and sunflowers make an excellent starter choice, blooming throughout the season.
Location
Cut flower gardens can take many forms: standalone planting beds or combinations that combine flowers and foliage plants into one garden space. No matter its form or placement, a cut flower garden must receive sufficient sun exposure while being free from windy conditions.
Assess the quality and depth of your garden soil as this will be instrumental in the success of your cutting flowers. Consider raising beds if possible; this gives you greater control over soil type and health, leading to improved plant health and productivity.
Keep in mind that most flowers bloom at specific times; therefore, succession planting is an ideal way to ensure fresh cut bouquets from your garden all summer long!
Soil
Flowers require loose soil with adequate drainage. Raised beds provide this benefit. Furthermore, full sun exposure is essential; many cut flower varieties prefer it over being in shade.
Plants requiring frequent pruning should be grown in rows for easier access and maintenance. This is especially important when harvesting. Select a mix of annual and perennial flower varieties with fragrant blooms as well as plants boasting gorgeous foliage for harvesting purposes.
Plants with different bloom times should be spaced out over the season to guarantee you have fresh flowers to cut throughout. Grouping them by their cultural requirements is also helpful in providing optimal conditions for their development.
Water
Success of a cutting garden relies heavily on several elements, not least of which is water. Raised beds offer ideal conditions for growing cut flowers due to their well-draining soil that keeps too much water away from their roots; overwatering leads to root rot and even death of the plant!
Consideration should also be given to the bloom cycles of your chosen plants. When possible, mix perennials and annuals so there is always something blooming at different points throughout the year. Review seed packet information regarding ideal spacing to ensure an efficient garden full of beautiful bouquets! The seeds from certain sunflowers and zinnias may even be harvested post-bloom for sowing next year if desired!
Pruning
No matter if it’s for cutting flowers specifically or simply adding new species into existing garden beds, there are various things to keep in mind prior to beginning planting. Any flowering plant can be grown as cut flowers but some are better suited than others.
As part of their growing season care regimen, it’s crucial that plants receive regular pruning to encourage branching and long stems. Furthermore, you should fertilize regularly; depending on which types of plants you’re cultivating (some prefer acidic solutions while others thrive under alkaline environments) you will use different kinds of fertilizer solutions accordingly.
Once the season is over, begin prepping for next year by cleaning out your beds, digging up dahlias (if necessary), amending soil conditions, and hardening off seedlings to prepare them for outdoor life.
Harvesting
Cutting gardens can serve many functions beyond providing flowers for cutting. A cutting garden may serve as a natural habitat to attract pollinators, provide food and shelter to birds and wildlife alike, as well as offer shelter to small animals.
Paying close attention to which flower varieties will thrive in your climate zone and environment is an integral component of growing a successful cut flower garden. Being aware of what your garden requires will allow you to determine when to fertilize or water accordingly.
When harvesting flowers, be sure that their stems contain plenty of nodes for new growth. Use clean cutting shears or snips when harvesting to prevent spreading any plant diseases and immediately place cut flowers into a bucket of clean water and flower preservative as soon as they’re cut in order to rehydrate them and prevent the risk of dehydration.