Snip, Snip, Hooray! Creating a Cutting Garden for Endless Bouquets A cutting garden is a wonderful way to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside with fresh bouquets throughout the growing season. By planning carefully and selecting the right flowers, you can enjoy a steady supply of blooms from spring to fall. The first step in creating a cutting garden is choosing a sunny location with well-drained soil. Most flowers that are ideal for cutting thrive in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Preparing the soil by enriching it with compost or organic matter ensures healthy root development and robust growth. Selecting a variety of flowers with different bloom times helps maintain a continuous supply of fresh-cut stems. Early spring flowers like tulips, daffodils, and alliums provide the first wave of colour. These bulbs should be planted in the fall to establish strong roots before winter. As spring transitions to summer, perennials such as peonies, irises, and delphiniums come into bloom, adding elegance and fragrance to arrangements. Annuals like zinnias, snapdragons, cosmos, and sunflowers are excellent choices for a mid-to-late summer display. These can be started indoors in early spring or sown directly into the garden once the risk of frost has passed. Hardy perennials such as rudbeckia, echinacea, and asters will extend the season into autumn with their rich hues and sturdy stems. Foliage plants and fillers play an important role in creating well-balanced bouquets. Herbs such as basil and mint add fragrance, while greenery like dusty miller, amaranth, and ferns provide texture and contrast. Branches from shrubs like ninebark or spirea offer structural elements that complement delicate blooms. Regular maintenance ensures a productive cutting garden. Deadheading spent flowers encourages plants to continue producing new blooms, while consistent watering, particularly during dry spells, keeps them healthy. Staking taller varieties prevents damage from wind or heavy rain, ensuring stems remain long and straight for arrangements. Harvesting flowers at the right time extends their vase life. The best time to cut blooms is early in the morning or late in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Using sharp, clean scissors or pruners prevents damage to the stems. Flowers should be placed immediately in a bucket of water and allowed to hydrate before arranging. Removing excess foliage that will
sit below the waterline reduces bacterial growth and keeps bouquets fresher for longer. A cutting garden not only provides an ongoing source of fresh flowers but also attracts pollinators and adds charm to outdoor spaces. With thoughtful planning and care, it is possible to enjoy the simple pleasure of homegrown bouquets all season long.
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Port Stanley Villager • April 2025 • Page 11
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