Creating A Cutting Garden

Using your inspiration, ask yourself what type of flowers you would like to see growing! Does a particular bloom stand out to you? I've decided to focus on mixing both annual and perennial flowers in my cutting garden. A mix will make for a lovely garden that I don't have to completely restart next year. 

I'm choosing dahlias and calla lilies for my annual flowers. For my perennial flowers, I am focusing on gladiolus and brodiaea. Make sure the flowers you pick have similar growing requirements to allow them to grow happy and strong. Here are all the flowers I have chosen for my cutting garden. 

Dahlias

- Cafe Au Lait - 
Type: Dinnerplate
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Bloom Time: Summer through fall 
Bloom Size: 8-10"
Plant Height: 3'
About: Dahlias thrive in hot weather, but these lovely, cream and pale pink flowers always look cool and elegant. Cafe au Lait's blossoms are fabulous in a vase by themselves and like peonies, it takes just a few of them to make and impressive arrangement. A very popular choice for wedding bouquets.

- Fleurel - 
Type: Dinnerplate
Hardiness: Zones 8-10
Bloom Time: Summer through fall 
Bloom Size: 8-10"
Plant Height: 3 1/2'
About: A classic dinnerplate dahlia with pure white blossoms. Gently twisting petals give the flowers a frilly look and a pale yellow center gives them a sunny glow. Each plant produces dozens of blooms so you can enjoy weeks of extravagant bouquets. A great choice for late summer or fall weddings.

- Lavender Perfection - 
Type: Dinnerplate
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Bloom Time: Summer through fall 
Bloom Size: 8-10"
Plant Height: 3 1/2'
About: This beautiful heirloom dahlia was introduced in the 1950s and it's still one of the best in its class. Lilac Perfection's 8-10" flowers are a lovely shade of soft, lavender-pink. Perfect for cottage gardens, paired with roses, garden phlox, and other old-fashioned perennials.

- Boom Boom Yellow - 
Type: Ball
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Bloom Time: Summer through fall 
Bloom Size: 3"
Plant Height: 3 1/2'
About: Ball dahlias have perfectly round, 3" flower heads that are densely packed with cupped petals. This new introduction is soft, primrose yellow, which makes it a perfect companion for virtually any color in the garden.

- Stolze Von Berlin - 
Type: Ball
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Bloom Time: Summer through fall 
Bloom Size: 3"
Plant Height: 3'
About: A perfect spiral of densely packed, lilac-pink petals makes each of these 3" blossoms a work of art. Admire them in your perennial garden or add them to summer bouquets.

- Lifestyle - 
Type: Anemone
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Bloom Time: Summer through fall 
Plant Height: 2 1/2'
About: A fancy, two-tone dahlia with lavender-pink petals surrounding a golden yellow center. The compact plants stand just over 2 feet tall and never need staking. Bright, summer-long color for flower beds, borders and pots.

Calla Lilies

- Natural Bouquet- 
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Bloom Time: Early Summer
Plant Height: 22"
About: This lovely calla lily glows with the soft pastel colors of a summer morning. Callas are easy to grow. Just plant the bulbs in spring for flowers in mid to late summer. The plants love hot weather and you can grow them in containers or right in your garden.

- Crystal Clear- 
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Bloom Time: Early Summer
Plant Height: 16"
About: These pristine white flowers have long been a favorite for weddings. Now you can enjoy growing calla lilies in your own garden or in pots right on your deck. Crystal Clear's variegated foliage is dappled with creamy white spots.

Gladiolus

-My Love - 
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Bloom Time: Summer
Plant Height: 4'
About: A completely unique gladiolus with a painterly look. My Love's glistening white petals have a pale pink blush and feature fancy, raspberry stitching. Stunning in the garden and an excellent cut flower that will last for a week or more in a vase.

-Isabella- 
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Bloom Time: Summer
Plant Height: 4'
About: Electrify your late summer garden with this raspberry-red gladiolus. Each stem displays a dozen or more velvety florets that are decorated with a bright white flash and sparkling white stamens. Isabella looks fabulous in a vase with garden phlox, dahlias and sunflowers.

Brodiaea

-Queen Fabiola - 
Hardiness: Zones 6-9
Bloom Time: Mid Summer
Plant Height: 2'
About: Florists love Brodiaea because their starry, violet-blue flowers last for 2 weeks in a vase. When you grow them yourself in a garden or planter, you can enjoy their flowers for a month or more. These summer-blooming bulbs are native to California and the Pacific Northwest and are naturally deer-resistant.

* Other Flowers To Consider: Anemone, Allium, Astilbe, Begonia, Canna Lily, Calendula, Crinum, Daffodil, Delphinium, Dianthus, Foxglove, Gypsophila, Larkspur, Liatris, Iris, Peony, Phlox, Poppies, Ranunculus, Rose, Sunflower, Sweet Pea, Tulip, Zinnia

I decided to really focus on growing different types of dahlias this summer. Since I'm starting my garden this spring, I'm choosing summer blooming bulbs. Out of all of the summer blooming bulbs, dahlias have always been my favorite. Dahlias need a good amount of room to grow, so make sure to give them a big enough space.

When creating a cutting garden, make sure you combine some different types of dahlias. This will make your floral arrangements have that professional touch! Here's an easy guide to all the different flower sizes and styles you can choose from. 

When you are planning out your garden, have an idea of what spot would suit your flowers best. Most blooms will prefer a sunny location with proper drainage and healthy soil. I have found a spot that has a good amount of light. To have more control of soil conditions and drainage, I've decided to create two raised garden beds.

I've decided to build these beds to be 3' x 6' each. Having space in between the beds will allow me the ability to easily tend to my flowers and stake them when needed. Just remember, you don't need to spend too much time worrying about the design. You want to create your garden to be as practical and functional as possible. 

As soon as the snow has melted and the ground has properly thawed, I will be out there prepping my cutting garden for planting. I will make sure to share every step of the way until the last flower has bloomed, so make sure to stay tuned!

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