3 Secrets to Cutting Your Own Garden Flowers From an Expert Gardener

3 foolproof tips for cutting flowers from the garden!

By now, hopefully all of your gardens are bursting with color. We’ve seen the bulbs come and go, and now we are all at the mercy of those dang peony flowers. What would we do without them though?

We don’t just want to stand outside and stare at them to get our fix (well maybe, if we had a lawn chair and a cool cocktail), it’s nice to bring those babies and the rest of your garden inside to enjoy.

What is the best way to go about that? There are some things to know before you head out with your clippers. Learn more about extending the life of your cut flowers!

Sharp clippers are a must

If you are heading out with dull clippers, you should probably brace yourself for a short vase life for your bloom. It’s important to have a sharp blade to get a nice, clean cut on the stem. Otherwise the stem is going to get crushed, and if it’s crushed it won’t be able to draw water.

Cut in the morning

You want to cut the stem when the plant is well hydrated and full of water, which occurs in the morning. In the heat of the afternoon, your flowers are very likely stressed and dehydrated. When cut at this time, they are more likely to wilt on you. Happy flowers, full of water, will provide a longer vase life.

Research the right stage

Not all flowers can be cut at the same stage in their life. Most can be cut when they are starting to show color in their bud stage. Peonies are like this. Cut them when they are still in a ball and you can see color. Dahlias, however, will not continue to open up if cut in their bud form. And Hellebores, which have already come and gone, need to be cut after their stamens have fallen out, otherwise they will wilt quickly. Examples of three popular flowers that all need to be cut at different stages of their life. It’s important to do a little cut flower research for this step!

bonus tip: After cutting

After you have cut your precious blooms, remove all of the leaves below the water line, place immediately in water and keep out of heat and bright light.

These three simple steps will help your flowers last longer, and stay healthy! Having a dedicated cut garden is a great way to not have to think twice about when or where to cut flowers from, for tips on how to grow a cut flower garden and how to make your cut flowers last longer, visit me over at Floral Mountains!

Photography by Indu Huynh