Spring is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start thinking about flowers! If you have space in your yard to plant, why not give it a try this year? Today we’re sharing our five favorite cutting flowers and how to prep and plant them.
Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are a personal favorite of mine because they are so beautiful in vases and last forever if you cut them at the right time! There are endless varieties, sizes and colors of hydrangeas, so there’s sure to be one that fits your style.
Most greenhouses and garden centers carry hydrangea bushes that are ready for planting. These plants love morning sun and afternoon shade, but most will thrive in shady environments. Be careful of planting them in direct sunlight – they dry up pretty quickly! If they’ve been in the sun all morning and are looking a little wilted, give them a good long drink from the hose and they’ll perk right back up.
Hydrangeas are perennials, which means they come back each year without having to do much work to keep them coming back. Plant one this year and watch it get bigger each spring!
Pro Tip: Don’t cut them as soon as they bloom if you want them to last! Most varieties of hydrangea need the blooms to mature before they are ready to be cut. For me, my giant Annabelle hydrangea (the big white ball variety!) aren’t ready to be cut until the white blooms start to dry out and turn green, about mid-July. Once they’re ready to cut though, they dry up nicely and last forever!
Peonies
Another all-time favorite, the peony! Peonies are arguably one of the most beautiful (and Instagram worthy) flowers and they only bloom once per season, making them even more precious!
You can find a variety of peony bushes at your local garden center. Again, there are so many beautiful varieties to choose from! Peonies love sunshine and can stand full sun all day – they bloom the best in sunny spots!
One note about peonies – the first year you buy your plant don’t expect too many blooms! You may get three to five small blooms the first year. As the years pass, your plant will grow and produce more blooms, just be patient!
Pro Tip: Let your dried peony petals fall and save them! They’re wonderful to add to a relaxing bath in the wintertime when you’re craving a little spring.
Lavender
Lavender is just one of those plants that’s nice to have around – they whimsical blooms and wonderful smell are great in your herb garden or on your back porch. Lavender can be planted in the ground or in a container, I normally plant in a galvanized bucket and move it around throughout the season. It likes lots of sunshine, just make sure to keep it watered so it doesn’t wilt and die!
Another bonus with lavender – you can harvest the flowers. Use them in cleaning, in baking or add them to a sachet to make your drawers or closet smell nice.
Lavender is an annual plant, meaning you’ll have to plant it each year but the smell alone is worth it!
Wildflowers
One of the most fun things to do with flowers is to cut them and bring them inside, and there’s no better kind to do that with than wildflowers!
Wildflowers are relatively easy to grow if they get enough sun and water. Buy a packet or bag of wildflower seeds, add them to an area of your yard that gets plenty of sunshine and water daily. When you plant seeds from a packet, it’s always fun to see what kind of wildflowers pop up!
Pro Tip: Make sure you buy seeds that are native to your area! Some wildflowers are known to be invasive. Those types can spread rapidly and knock out native plants, which is no fun! Look for native wildflowers for your region and you should be good to go!\
Poppies
Poppies are another perennial plant that are fun to have in your yard because they bloom and die quickly. Watching them go through their life cycle is truly amazing!
You can purchase poppy plants or start them on your own with seeds – most garden centers will have a variety of colors and types to choose from.
The paper-thin petals are what makes them so interesting, and once they bloom and open it’s amazing to see their intricate interiors! These are another one that only blooms once a year, so having them in your yard is like waiting for a surprise.
Poppies love lots of sunlight and can withstand being neglected a bit, which is nice if you tend to forget about your plants or travel in the summertime. They’re not great for cutting because they wilt pretty quickly, but they’re a wonderful flower to watch bloom each year!
There’s your round-up of fun flowers to plant in your garden this year! The best thing you can do is to plan ahead before you head to the garden center – know what spots in your yard you have open for plants and plan accordingly.
Once you plant your flowers, don’t forget to water! Plants love a good long drink in the morning so they have enough water to get them through the hot days, and some may even need to be watered in the afternoon if they’re looking a little wilted.
If you plan your garden ahead of time and make sure to water daily, you’ll have beautiful flowers that you can enjoy for years to come.
Want to plot out your garden plan? Download this worksheet and get sketching!
What are you most looking forward to planting in your garden this year? Share in the comments!
Mariah Danielsen is Camp Climb’s graphic designer and resident plant lady. Each year she and her husband expand their gardens even more and enjoy fresh cut flowers, veggies and herbs all summer long.
