Here at The Bouqs Co., we’re big believers that you can never have enough fresh cut flowers. That’s why we’re huge fans of having our own cutting gardens, where we grow beautiful flowers that we can quickly snip off and use as decorations for our homes.
But if you’re going to have your own gorgeous flower garden, you have to know all the ins and outs of cutting garden flowers. That includes identifying when they’re ready to be cut, how to cut them, how to prep them for a vase, and how to care for them so they live long and happy lives in your home.
It’s also important to know which flowers are most suited for a cutting garden. After all, you want fast-growing flowers so you can always have fresh Bouqs adorning your kitchen table.
Some of the best flowers for cutting gardens are marigolds, cosmos, black-eyed Susans, poppies, mums, sunflowers, daffodils, and tulips. Plant these and you’ll have an endless stream of beautiful and fragrant fresh blooms coming through your door—and that’s what any flower enthusiast like yourself should be striving for!
When to Cut Your Garden Flowers
The best time to cut garden flowers is always in the early morning. The reason is that they’ve just enjoyed a cool night and perked themselves up from the morning dew, which means they’ll be nice and hydrated. Also, since their stems are full of water, they will be strong and less susceptible to damage when handling.
Absolutely never, ever, ever cut garden flowers at midday or in the early afternoon as the sun will have sucked lots of water out of their leaves, leaving them wilted, limp, and lacking vital nutrients. If you do, we can say with confidence that your flowers won’t be enjoying a long vase life.
Also, different types of flowers require that you cut them at certain stages of their development. For instance, flowers with multiple buds should be cut when at least one bud is starting to open and display coloration. If you cut them too early, chances are the buds won’t open up in your vase. On the other hand, flowers with just one bloom on each stem should be cut only after they are fully opened.
Tools for Cutting Garden Flowers
First things first, you’ll want to gather the necessary tools for cutting garden flowers. We recommend using sharp garden shears for the cutting itself. Anything less runs the risk of damaging your flower’s stem and in turn hampering its water intake.
You should also bring a bucket of water with you on cutting trips to your flower garden. This way, you’ll be able to quickly put your flowers in a much-needed bath after they’re trimmed. Remember that the less time you expose your fresh cut flowers to open air after cutting, the longer they’ll live.
Proper Garden Flower Cutting Technique
As for the proper technique, cut all flowers at about one inch from the bottom of their stem. For better results, cut at a 45-degree angle. This maximizes surface area for water intake and also makes sure the stem doesn’t sit flat in the vase, which can inhibit it from slurping up all that refreshing H2O.
Finally, trim all the excess foliage that would rest below your vase’s waterline. That way, the leaves won’t introduce unwanted bacteria into the water. Trust us, flowers hate bacteria just as much as your body does!
Prep Your Fresh Cut Flowers for Vase Life
Now that your garden flowers are cut, it’s time to get your vase ready. The first step is to fill it with lukewarm water. The reason warm water trumps cold water is that warm water molecules move faster and therefore make it from the stem to the head of the flower quicker.
Next, put some flower preservative in your vase. If you don’t have any pre-packaged flower food on hand, no biggie! Just whip some up in your kitchen. All it takes is 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of household bleach, and 2 teaspoons of lemon or lime juice per quart of water. This will help give your flower all the nutrients it needs, while simultaneously beating back all that pesky bacteria that want to crash in your flowers’ new digs.
Just make sure that while you are getting your vase ready you keep your flowers in either a bucket or sink soaking up water—30 minutes to an hour of bath time for your flowers can make a world of difference. But be careful not to leave them in there for too long, however.
Caring for Your Cut Garden Flowers
Whether you get your blooms from your garden or your local florist, the same proper floral care and conditioning strategies still apply.
First, this means keeping your vase of fresh cut flowers away from direct sunlight, excess heat, cool drafts, and ripening fruits, which emit a gas that can wilt your flowers and dampen their color. Don’t let that happen!
Second, you should make sure to recondition your vase once every two days. Essentially, this just means refilling your vase with fresh water, re-trimming the stems, and adding more flower preservatives.
By following these simple steps, we can guarantee that your fresh cut garden flowers will live long and healthy lives in your home. And not just that, they’ll look even more beautiful and vibrant than you ever could’ve imagined! And when you’ve got a hankering for a bloom you haven’t managed to grow in your own flower garden, check out what The Bouqs Co. has to offer. With our handcrafted Bouqs, we’ve got something for everyone – happiness guaranteed.
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