Creating a Perennial Cut Flower Garden The joy of cut flowers harvested from your very own garden is hard to beat. As we move throught the months of spring and summer, we have a tremendous opportunity to plant not only for beauty in the garden, but also for our homes. July is the peak of the garden season with an abundance of flowers in bloom. Plant with purpose and you'll be able to bundle them up as gifts for friends, neighbors, and most importantly you! How to get started Anchor your garden with medium sized shrubs that have both foliage and flower interest. Choose perennials with multiple heights to create depth and interest. Plant in large groups to maximize flower production. Vary flower shape and size. Plant flowers with fragrance. Choose perennials with long bloom times, or that rebloom with deadheading. Add plants with interesting foliage. Always plant for pollinators too! Start flowers from seed Now is the time to start cut flowers for the garden. Download our custom seed starting guide to get started! Cut Flower Garden Guide Cut Flower Garden Worksheet If you need to explore the basics of seeds starting. Start with our Seed Starting 101 blog and Seed Starting Video! Join Sheri and Amaya in the greenhouse in our Create a Cutting Flower Garden video as they teach us their expert tips and trick! Time to harvest In general, flowers should be harvested before they are fully open, and before pollination. Harvest flowers in the morning when they cool and most hydrated Use a sharp knife and cut at a 45 degree angle Remove most of the foliage Place in cool clean water for 2-3 hours Arrange in groups of 3 or 5 in a your vessel of choice Plant list for full sun Hydrangeas (Panicle type) Cotinus (Smokebush) Echinacea (Coneflower) Lily Mondarda (Bee Balm) Achillea (Yarrow) Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower) Coreopsis (Tickseed) Heuchera (Coral Bells) Download { "__shgImageV2Elements": { "uuid": "s-fa538326-11dc-4b27-8e96-294dfa1e3216" } } .image-arch{ position: relative; } .image-arch::after { background-image: url(content/arch-frame.svg); position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; background-size: contain; content: " "; top: -1px; background-repeat: no-repeat; }