Plant an array of annual and perennial flowers. The more colors, heights and textures you include in your mix, the more enjoyable bouquet arranging will become.
Consider using a raised garden bed. This way, you won’t risk trampling on plants or accidentally crushing blooms during your gardening efforts.
Zinnias benefit from pinching to encourage their branches to branch and form long stems suitable for cutting. Read seed and plant catalog descriptions carefully in order to ascertain if pinching will be necessary in your case.
Planting
Cut flower gardens require plenty of sun and healthy, well-draining soil. As part of any evaluation of existing garden beds, adding organic matter may improve both soil structure and water retention.
Peruse seed packets and plant tags carefully in order to determine the planting requirements for each variety of plant you wish to cultivate, such as sunflowers and zinnias which require stakes as they grow taller; others, such as sweet peas and climbing nasturtiums are vining plants that require either netting or trellises for support as they climb upward.
Many flowers don’t bloom at the same time, so to ensure a steady supply of cut flowers throughout the season it’s smart to create a mix of annuals and perennials – for instance starting seeds for shorter-stature varieties in spring before gradually transitioning them over to taller varieties later. Staggered planting times (known as succession growing) is also helpful; consider starting seeds early then gradually moving onto taller ones later.
Care
Plants designed for bouquets require ample sunlight and well-drained soil, so evaluate your garden beds for suitable sites to cultivate cut flower gardens.
group plants with similar cultural needs to make giving them attention easier. If you have several varieties of zinnias, grow them together so you can easily reach each one for cutting purposes.
Alternatively, succession planting allows for flowers that bloom at different times and stagger their planting so they bloom throughout the season.
Pinch annual and perennial flowers about one month old to encourage more blossoms and longer stems. You can pinch by hand or use clean garden shears, while deadheading is important to encourage new growth and rebloom; to do this, simply remove any spent blooms by cutting just above their first set of leaves.
Pruning
An attractive cut flower garden requires ongoing care to look its best throughout the season. Deadheading must be done frequently and shrubs/trees pruned regularly so as not to shade out flowers. Planting fragrant herbs with long stems also adds flair, as does adding winter arrangements using flowers that dry well.
As this growing season draws to a close, now is a good time to plan for next year. Aim to include both perennials and annuals into your garden plan for diversity of colors, heights and bloom times – perennials will come back year after year and add structure, while annuals provide opportunities for experimentation with new hues, textures and scents.
Alternatively, if space for a separate cutting garden is lacking, consider creating one within existing borders or garden beds. Just ensure the rows are wide enough to allow access when harvesting flowers; keep in mind that certain annual flowers like zinnias and sunflowers grow on vining plants that require support such as trellises to stay upright.
Harvesting
Growing cut flowers at home is simple and rewarding. Not only will your blooming garden add color and aroma, but pollinators and other wildlife also find nourishment from them.
Select a sunny area in your yard where you can admire your flowers throughout the season. Plant an assortment of annual and perennial flowers for maximum blooming potential; include varieties with different textures and hues to add variety and interest in bouquets; shrubs and herbaceous plants can further beautify arrangements.
Make use of a weed control method to avoid your cutting garden becoming overrun with weeds. By mixing organic matter into the soil before planting flowers, you can ensure optimal drainage and water retention.
When planting directly in the ground, do so at least three to four weeks to one month prior to your last frost date. Your seed packet or plant tag should provide advice regarding when is best to sow this particular variety.