There’s a way to keep your lush flower-filled back garden intact but still have gorgeous blooms to make arrangements with: Plant an extra garden (called a cutting garden) and fill it with flowers that are meant to be displayed in a vase, Martha explains. “You’ve got the best of both worlds.”
Planning a cut flower garden may at first seem like a lot of extra work, but despite its name, it doesn’t involve creating an entirely new plot of land just for cut flowers. Instead, you only need an empty plot of land and a few packets of seeds. Here’s what you need to know, according to gardening experts.
“Before choosing your flowers, you’ll need to know where to plant them in order for your garden to flourish,” says Martha, before pointing to her blog for more advice.
Experts say that choosing a location where sunlight is a priority and that drains well will ensure that the flowers do not become overly wet. And for every garden full of flowers, it is essential to choose a place with fertile soil that will help the health of the plant. Choosing a soil test (like this one on Amazon) will help identify nutrients that may be missing in your soil—so you can add accordingly.
Then, after you’ve found the right spot for your cutting garden, you need to choose the best plants. Of course, this is down to personal preference – but for inspiration – gardening work I researched the most beloved bangs across the US—and what makes them so popular.
(Image credit: GettyImages)
What are the popular plants that look best in the cutting garden?
As Martha mentions, the goal of the cutting garden is to create flowers that will eventually become part of the arrangements—whether in our homes or as gifts for someone else. So, it’s only natural to start with the flowers that are currently most admired across the country: starting with lavender.
1. lavender
“The tulip is America’s favorite flower, with an average of 69,430 group searches annually,” say the experts at Gardening.
It’s easy to see why lavender is so beloved. They say, “It’s famous for its delicate purple flowers and wonderful relaxing scent.” “It can provide a welcome shock of color to any setting and it’s great for pollinators, so it can attract bees to your garden, too.”
2. Roses
Synonymous with romance and passion, America’s love seems to extend to roses, too. With 41,030 searches annually on average, the rose ranks as the third most popular flower in America, and coincidentally perfect for the cutting garden.
“The sheer diversity of species may seem overwhelming, but this means that there is likely to be a diversity to suit any space one might have,” they say. Roses grow best in full sun, with soil of medium moisture and a pH ranging from neutral to slightly acidic. However, certain types of roses can tolerate conditions outside this range.
3. Peonies
The eye-catching peony is also America’s favorite flower, with an average of 36,870 searches annually, which means it’s a safe choice for our cutting garden and will instantly impress in any home when the time comes.
Experts say: “The peony is a perennial plant that blooms briefly in late spring and early summer.” It grows best in full sun or partially shaded areas that receive plenty of afternoon sun in the summer. It is also very particular about the soil in which it grows, preferring loose, well-drained, fertile and rich soil.
