99 In Flowers/ Gardening

Creating A Cutting Garden

Creating Your Very Own Cutting Garden | angiethefreckledrose.com

I have always fantasized about having my very own cutting garden. I've definitely grown many flowers that look like they are straight out of a floral fairytale. These include dahlias, gladiolus and calla lilies. Although I have grown these flowers, I've never really taken the time to design a designated space for these blooms. With spring only a few weeks away, I am in the planning stages of making my very first official cutting garden.

Growing your own flowers and making your own floral arrangements doesn't just have to be a dream. You can easily create one in your backyard right now. I want to take you all along with me through every stage of creating this garden.  I am so excited to watch my new heavenly flowers bloom. So, I invite you to join me as my garden grows!

Creating A Cutting Garden |Photo taken at at The Hillwood Estate & Museum in Washington, DC | angiethefreckledrose.com

Photo taken at at The Hillwood Estate & Museum in Washington, DC

I was fortunate enough to visit Marjorie Post's cutting garden at The Hillwood Estate & Museum in Washington, DC. Marjorie Merriweather Post was an American Socialite as well as one of the wealthiest women in the United States. She used this fortune to collect art, jewelry and create a stunning cutting garden. This cutting garden is still there today, and many of the flowers grown are used in floral arrangements inside the mansion.

Creating A Cutting Garden | Photo taken at at The Hillwood Estate & Museum in Washington, DC | angiethefreckledrose.com

If you visit, you will notice the amount of care that goes into it and the attention to every single detail according to season. In the short amount of time I had, I became filled to the brim with inspiration. Luckily, inspiration is free, and I was able to take it all home with me!

Gather Up Inspiration

Creating A Cutting Garden | angiethefreckledrose.com

Before you start to build your cutting garden, make sure to gather up inspiration. You can really gain a clear vision of what you want while figuring out what will work best for you. I like to browse through Pinterest, Instagram, flower websites and more!

Creating A Cutting Garden | Inspiration from Kathleen's cutting garden | angiethefreckledrose.com

Kathleen's cutting garden

Kathleen LaLiberte of Longfield Gardens shares frequent blog posts filled with ideas and even her own gorgeous cutting garden. You can see them here. Now that you have been inspired, it's time to take those ideas and create something of your own! 

Choose Some Blooms

Creating A Cutting Garden | angiethefreckledrose.com

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

Creating A Cutting Garden | Dahlia Cafe Au Lait | angiethefreckledrose.com- 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.

 

Creating A Cutting Garden | Dahlia Fleurel | angiethefreckledrose.comFleurel 
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.

 

Creating A Cutting Garden | Lavender Perfection | angiethefreckledrose.comLavender 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.

 

Creating A Cutting Garden | Boom Boom Yellow Dahlia | angiethefreckledrose.comBoom 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.

 

Creating A Cutting Garden| Dahlia Stolze Von Berlin | angiethefreckledrose.comStolze 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.

 

 

Creating A Cutting Garden | Lifestyle Anemone Dahlia| angiethefreckledrose.comLifestyle 
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

Creating A Cutting Garden |Natural Bouquet | angiethefreckledrose.comNatural 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.

 

 

Creating A Cutting Garden | Crystal Clear Calla Lily | angiethefreckledrose.comCrystal 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

Creating A Cutting Garden | Gladiolus My Love | angiethefreckledrose.com-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.

 

 

Creating A Cutting Garden | Gladiolus Isabella | angiethefreckledrose.com-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

Creating A Cutting Garden | angiethefreckledrose.com-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

Focusing On Dahlias

Creating A Cutting Garden | angiethefreckledrose.com

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. 

Creating A Cutting Garden | angiethefreckledrose.com

Pick A Location

 

Creating A Cutting Garden | angiethefreckledrose.com

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. 

 Creating A Cutting Garden | angiethefreckledrose.com

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!

P.S. Are you ready for the giveaway? Keep on scrolling!

Angie Rose

CLICK TO PIN

Creating A Cutting Garden With Giveaway! | I have always fantasized about having my very own cutting garden. I've definitely grown many flowers that look like they are straight out of a floral fairytale. These include dahlias, gladiolus and calla lilies.| angiethefreckledrose.com
Share

You Might Also Like

99 Comments

  • Reply
    HilLesha
    March 16, 2018 at 2:05 pm

    These flowers are simply gorgeous! I have always loved gardening and I’m looking so forward to working on it this spring. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • Reply
    Lindsey Field
    March 16, 2018 at 6:44 am

    Beautiful!! So inspiring. I’m focusing a lot more on flowers this year than ever before – would love to win this amazing giveaway! <3

  • Reply
    Denise
    March 16, 2018 at 4:33 am

    Ow im looking forward to follow then Alting of your flower garden! I am starting my OWN flower garden to this Year. IT Will be decorating our front yard. I love to see hoe u build iT up And get inspired! Ik over dvlias too. Ive got these planted inside now to get then started And multiply then so ingot loads in may when the can come outside. A ive got a peony too And Will Add heleborus, llillies, gladiolus, lavendel, zinnia And possible astilbe And alliums if i can get my hands on those. Ive got a very limited budget for the flower garden. So i try to trade al the baby plants. Working out great so far !

  • Reply
    Ruth
    March 15, 2018 at 3:06 pm

    My grandad used to grow Dahlias and it would be fun to have a cutting garden and emulate a little of him, I’ll be hanging onions in a shed before you know it. I do wish I had his soil sieves though.

  • Reply
    Dee
    March 15, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    So beautiful. I wish I could have a garden but the only plants I can manage to keep alive are cactus and orchids, so that’s what I stick with.

  • Reply
    alicia h
    March 15, 2018 at 11:17 am

    What a beautiful garden this would make! Happy spring!

  • Reply
    Rachael Bleymaier Thibodeaux
    March 15, 2018 at 11:12 am

    I’ve never really had my own cutting garden or grown dahlias, but I’ve been wanting to try both! Thank you for the opportunity!

  • Reply
    Danita Day
    March 15, 2018 at 11:11 am

    Lovely selections. I planted one Dahlia variety last year and it didn’t survive. I would love to try again.

  • Reply
    Alice
    March 15, 2018 at 11:03 am

    Such a lovely post about Dahlias!

  • Reply
    Susie Merry Johnson
    March 14, 2018 at 10:10 pm

    I would love to expand my growing experience by adding Dahlias to my garden. They offer such a variety of beautiful color, size, form and petal shape! The blooms make for a gorgeous cut bouquet. ❤

  • Reply
    Tammy T
    March 14, 2018 at 7:04 pm

    What a gorgeous collection of Dahlias! Fingers crossed!

  • Reply
    Crystal Rose
    March 14, 2018 at 7:03 pm

    These would be great in our garden.

  • Reply
    Kristy Bullard
    March 14, 2018 at 4:52 pm

    These are great! I’m excited to incorporate these flowers in my yard – if Mother Nature will ever decide if she wants spring or winter! My perennials bloomed then the temps dropped below freezing!

  • Reply
    Ruthie Ridley
    March 14, 2018 at 4:17 pm

    Wow, all of these look literally amazing!! I am not good in the garden! I envy people like you!!

  • Reply
    AMANDA STOVALL
    March 14, 2018 at 9:25 am

    Just gorgeous! My favorite flowers are calla lillies and also daffodils! Thanks for the inspiration, i also would love to have a cutting garden of my own one day…

  • 1 4 5 6 7

    Leave a Reply

    %d bloggers like this: