Cut flower gardens are designated beds or areas dedicated to growing flowers for use in floral arrangements, such as long-stemmed annuals and perennials, bulbs, half-hardy annuals that rebloom, half-hardy annuals that bloom twice or half hardy annuals that come back blooming each season.
Plant flowers from different seasons to ensure a steady supply of cuttings throughout the year. Also arrange them in wide rows so you can easily snip stems.
Sunlight
Gardens adorned with vibrant flowerbeds bring great pleasure to gardeners and their loved ones alike, and can even become a source of income as side businesses.
To maximize the success of your cut flower garden, it is essential that you select an area with ample sunlight and well-draining soil. Next, carefully plan out your plantings on paper by considering bloom times and heights; group flowers with similar growing conditions together so they receive optimal care.
Start out small, starting with easy-to-grow annuals and perennials suitable for cutting such as zinnias, sweet peas, dahlias and tulips; as your experience increases you can add more challenging varieties – aim to grow a balanced array of colors and shapes that create long-lasting bouquets!
Soil
Ideal conditions for growing cut flowers require soil with rich, well-draining properties. Mix in organic matter before planting flowers – this will enhance water retention and drainage, helping prevent powdery mildew issues among certain varieties (especially zinnias).
Consider creating raised beds for your cut flower garden as these will make planting, weeding and picking easier than regular garden beds. Choose a location where full sunlight shines on it; if space allows it could even be split between annuals and perennials to ensure you can harvest fresh cut flowers throughout the season – something known as succession planting will ensure this!
When harvesting, cutting stems either morning or evening is best to minimize wilting and ensure the use of clean gardening shears to minimize spreading bacteria that causes cut stems to rot more quickly.
Water
Grown cut flowers can be an economical and attractive solution to grocery store blooms, while providing home flower arrangements. Just ensure your planting takes place in an ideal location using quality soil. Furthermore, ensure their blooms receive enough water throughout their lives.
You can grow flowers in containers and raised beds if your garden is small, but for optimal results a dedicated cut flower garden would be best. Maintaining one is easier and can give better results than growing in containers and raised beds.
Plant your cut flower garden in a sunny spot with rich, well-draining soil that benefits from compost or organic matter for improved drainage and water retention. When organizing plants according to light exposure or bloom time requirements, group accordingly for maximum success in providing adequate care.
Fertilization
An effective cutting garden needs full sun exposure, so select a site free from shade from trees or buildings and with rich, well-draining soil.
Create your planting bed around its cultural requirements by grouping plants with similar needs together, to prevent yourself from unknowingly over- or underwatering them.
Grouping plants by their mature height will make it easier to access flowers when they’re ready for cutting. For instance, tall perennials should be planted at the back and short annuals planted in front. You should also separate vining plants like sweet peas and climbing nasturtiums from those that need support (dahlias) or stakes (snapdragons).
Pruning
No longer do you require an elaborate garden to enjoy homegrown blooms in your vases; an attractive cutting flower garden can easily be added onto existing beds or landscape areas.
Begin your garden design with quality seeds or plant starts. Select flowers with long vase life, such as sunflowers, rudbeckia and dahlias; as well as filler plants that boast beautiful fragrance and colors such as Alyssum (aka sweet Alyssum).
Consider grouping the plants according to their cultural requirements. This will ensure you give each the appropriate amount of water without overwatering or under-watering them. Also consider the shape of your bed: A wider row is preferable over narrow ones for reaching flower stems for cutting easily; ensure there are ample garden paths leading up to them and keeping access easy!