When lots of flowers are blooming in your garden, you have a choice: either leave them blooming and come out each day to admire them, or cut them and make an amazing floral arrangement to decorate your home. If you choose to cut them, here are 6 tips to make you look like a pro.
Tip 1: Build Your Base with Greens First
In a clean vase, take your greens first, snip the ends to the size you want, then start criss-crossing the stems into the vase so you have stems all around inside. This creates a base for your flower arrangement without needing oasis foam, and makes flower placement much easier.
Tip 2: Work in Rings for Low Arrangements
For a small, low arrangement, slide the flowers in a criss-cross so the stems are all around the inside of the vase. You should have a ring of flowers on the outside with nothing but stems showing in the middle. The more stems in the vase, the easier it is to keep flowers in place. Each row of flowers should be slightly higher than the last until you have a nice rounded arrangement.
Tip 3: Use a Tall, Slim Vase for Statement Flowers
For a tall arrangement, use a tall slim vase. Your flowers will hold up better and look well proportioned. Great flowers to use are gladiolas, blue delphinium, lilies, and snapdragons. Tall tulips look fantastic too.
Tip 4: Avoid Perfect Symmetry — Mimic Nature
A common design mistake is placing flowers in a vase perfectly evenly. This looks unnatural. Look at any garden and you'll see some blooms sticking out, some tucked in, some almost hidden but still contributing to the overall look. Mimic nature and don't be afraid to tuck some flowers in a bit.
Tip 5: Use Odd Numbers of Flowers
Use odd numbers of flowers — 3, 5, or 7 of the same type together. Even numbers are not as visually effective. If using 5 roses, place 3 together near the bottom centre of the vase at slightly different lengths, then place the remaining 2 roses on opposite sides a little higher up.
Tip 6: Let Some Flowers Reach Higher
Don't cut all your stems to the same height. Allow some flowers to reach higher than others to create dimension and a more natural, garden-fresh feel. A varied height arrangement is always more beautiful than a flat, uniform one.
💡 Pro tip: Change the water every 2–3 days and re-cut the stems at an angle each time. This dramatically extends the life of your cut flower arrangement.
Ready to Start Growing?
Download the free Wise Gardener's Starter Guide — five easy steps to your first harvest.