How to Design a Cut Flower Garden
Flower are beautiful to look at, both in the garden and in the house. Growing a cutting garden offers flowers that will dress up the flower garden and brighten the house. Flowers used for cutting are best grown in rows, like a vegetable garden. This makes it easier to weed, water and cut. Select flowers that have a variety of blossom shape and sizes to add interest to bouquets or floral arrangements. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Compost or decayed manure
- Rake
- Trowel
- Drummond phlox seeds
- African marigold plants
- French marigold plants
- Scarlet sage
- Clary Sage
- Water
- Mulch
- Hoe
- Pesticide
- Pruning shears
Instructions
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How to Design a Cut Flower Garden
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1
Select a site for the cut flower garden. An old vegetable garden-that is 15 feet by 5 feet-is perfect for growing cut flowers. The flowers need full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Dig up the area, remove any rocks, weeds or other garden debris. Mix in 2 inches of compost or manure. Dig up all the soil to a depth of 8 inches and smooth with a rake.
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2
Sow the Drummond phlox seeds in one of the garden rows in very early spring. Water to settle the soil and continue to water every few days until the seedlings appear. Thin the seedlings to 6 inches apart.
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3
Plant rows of African and French marigolds in last spring, after danger of frost has past. Space the plants 1 foot apart. Plant the scarlet and clary sage, leaving 1 foot between the plants.
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4
Spread a layer of mulch around the seedlings and plants. Water to settle the soil. Continue watering every few days. Control weeds by cutting them down with a hoe. Watch for any signs of insect infestation and treat by spraying pesticide.
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5
Cut the flowers for arrangements and bouquets early in the morning. Place the flowers in a vase of water immediately. Deadhead to encourage continued blooming and to prevent the flowers from setting seeds.
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Tips & Warnings
Other flowers to use in a cut flower garden include cosmos, celosia, zinnia, gladiolus, ammi majus, cleome, scabious, sunflower, snapdragon, butterfly flower, stock, sweet pea, China aster, four-o-clock, heliotrope and Chinese forget-me-not.
