How to Plan and Grow a Cutting Garden (2024)

Equipment / Tools

Materials

Instructions

1. Prepare the Site

   Just because you’ll be cutting these flowers regularly doesn’t mean you can skimp on the soil. For the most prolific, healthy flowers, amend your soil to ensure the plants have the nutrients they need to grow and bloom well.

   Make sure the area isweed-free. Although this garden doesn’t have to look pretty, you still don’t want your plants to have to compete with weeds for nutrients and water.

   Your cutting flowers will need soil that is rich inorganic matter to improve water retention and drainage. Work in several inches ofcompostorleaf mold before planting.

   Incorporate a dose of a balanced, slow-acting, granular, organicfertilizer at the start of the season. This, plus a healthy dose of fresh compost, is usually enough to keep the plants healthy and growing throughout the season. If you notice blooms diminishing, you can always give them a hit of liquid fertilizer during the summer if needed. Make sure you check the growing needs of your flowers first. Some flowers, like coreopsis, actually bloom better in poor soil.
   

   

2. Plan the Layout

   Ease of access is very important in a cutting garden.Wide rowsare the traditional approach. You won’t have to reach as far to cut stems. Be sure to leave paths between them that are wide enough for you to move in and work. You’ll be carrying a bucket of water for them or a basket to hold your cut flowers, so give yourself space to navigate.
   

   

   See Also

   How to Plan Your Perfect Cut Flower Garden This Season

3. Determine What the Plants Need

   Determine what the growing conditions are for each of the flowers you choose to grow, and then group those with like needs together. Grouping plants with similar growing requirements will help you give them all exactly what they need with minimal effort on your part. It will also prevent you from unintentionally over- or under-watering the plants that are growing near other plants with completely different likes and dislikes.
   

   

4. Consider the Height of the Plants

   Once you have your plants grouped by their cultural needs, divide them again by their mature height. You don’t want the shorter plants to be engulfed by the tall ones. They won’t get enough sunshine and it will be more difficult to reach them for cutting.
   

   

5. Arrange Flowers Based on Bloom Sequence

   Flowers don’t all bloom at the same time. Consider laying out your plants in the order they are expected to bloom; early season, mid-season, or later in the season. Or, if you want to avoid dead patches in your cutting garden and keep it looking lovely all season, intersperse flowers with different bloom times within the same beds. As spring bulbs fade, for instance, early summer annuals cover the bulbs' fading foliage.
   

   

6. Spread More Seeds Throughout the Growing Season

   Annualsoften don’t last an entire growing season. Make sure you pick up extra seed packets in the spring, so you can reseed when one batch starts to fade. If a group of plants is fading, rip them out, freshen the soil with compost, and replant something new.
   

   

7. Use Mulch

   Yes, even in a cutting garden,mulch is necessary. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. You can mulch with shredded leaves or straw. The mulch helps deter weeds from moving in while also retaining soil moisture. The last thing you need is another garden to weed. If the mulch decomposes to less than 1 inch of covering, it’s time to top it off with some fresh mulch.
   

   

8. Maintain Your Cutting Garden

   The most important thing you can do is keep cutting. Many plants will set new flowers after cutting the first flush of blooms.

   Otherwise, maintenance will be much like any other flower border. Keep an eye out for pests and disease and remove affected plants before the problems have a chance to spread. Make sure your flowers get water at least weekly, more if you’re having a particularly hot, dry summer.