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I've been gardening for decades, and when I started my cutting garden, I was often asked by curious neighbours, “what is a cutting garden, and why do you need one?”. My response is always the same.
A cutting garden is any patch of land dedicated to growing flowers where the sole purpose is to use the flowers away from the garden. For example in bouquets or arrangements or for drying. This means you will be happy to cut the flowers at their peak rather than when they are past their best.
As a gardener, it can feel counterintuitive to cut the flowers you've worked so hard to grow. But having a dedicated cutting garden allows you to freely harvest blooms without worrying about ruining the aesthetics of your main garden. It's a space where you can let your creativity bloom and experiment with different flower combinations.
Sure, you can always pluck flowers from your main garden, but then you'll be stuck in a constant dilemma – should you keep the flower on the plant or put it in a vase? Having a cutting garden solves this dilemma and lets you enjoy your blooms up close and personal, even when it's raining outside.
No matter the size of your cutting garden, starting one offers a bunch of benefits for sustainable seasonal flower gardening, especially for nature-loving ladies like us.
What are the benefits of starting a cutting garden?
Gardening is a fantastic hobby embraced by many. While creating a garden is often a long-term endeavour, a cutting garden can be quickly and easily set up. You can even start reaping the rewards within a single season. Whether you have a tiny backyard or an expansive garden, a cutting garden brings forth numerous benefits and rewards. Here are just a few.
Home-grown flowers are good for the environment.
The international cut flowers industry is massive, and growing. Many of the flowers sold in florists and supermarkets are flown in from faraway places like Holland, South America, or Africa, grown in energy-consuming poly tunnels. Just think of the air miles that go into transporting these flowers to the supermarket shelves.
Moreover, commercial cut flowers often undergo chemical treatments to control pests, diseases, and to extend their shelf life during transportation. Fungicide baths, cold air vacuumed storage, and frequent sugar and bleach additions are just some of the tricks used. Suddenly, those picture-perfect blooms don't seem so appealing.
But fear not! By growing your own flowers or supporting local flower farmers, you can ensure that your blooms are environmentally friendly and sustainably grown.
Always be ready with heartfelt gifts.
With a cutting garden, those last-minute dashes to the supermarket or garage for a lacklustre bouquet when visiting friends or family will become a thing of the past. Instead, you'll have abundant bunches of home-grown flowers that hold more meaning and joy for everyone who receives them.
Flower gardening is good for your mental health.
In 2021, the RHS released research that proved the therapeutic benefits of gardening for anxiety, depression, and overall mental well-being. Daily gardening has been shown to increase well-being scores by 6.6% and reduce stress levels by 4.2% compared to non-gardeners. The survey of 6000 people revealed a significant association between gardening frequency and improved well-being and reduced stress.
In addition, placing fresh-cut flowers to your home can also work wonders for your mood. A study conducted by Harvard found that participants felt less worried and anxious after having fresh-cut flowers around their homes for a few days. It's like having a natural mood booster right at your fingertips.
More flower power, less spending.
It's astonishing how many flowers you can harvest from even a small patch. By carefully selecting cut-and-come-again flowers or sowing seeds successively, you can enjoy a continuous supply of flowers from May to October.
A lovely vase of flowers requires only about 20 stems. So with just a couple of packets of seeds, you'll find it surprisingly easy to pick a fresh bunch every week during the season. And at the price of around £2 per packet of seeds, you can't even buy a basic bunch of flowers in the supermarket for that amount.
Here are my top annual plants to sow in Spring in March and April, that will get your flower garden going in no time.
If you are ready to buy your seeds I have all of the easy cut flower seeds to grow in my shop (aff). Shop Now
Grow rare beauties you won't easily find.
In addition to an abundance of flowers, a cutting garden allows you to grow varieties that are often challenging or expensive to find in stores. Dahlias, zinnias, sweet peas, ammi majus, and a wide array of tulips in different colours and shapes are just a few examples. These beauties are a breeze to grow, but they're not commonly available in commercial markets and florists due to their delicate nature.
Commercial flowers are often lacking in fragrance due to the treatments they undergo. However, with a cutting garden, you can grow flowers solely for their delightful scents. Imagine filling your home with the delightful aroma of roses or sweet peas – it's pure floral bliss.
Flower gardening for a fit and fab you.
Gardening is not just a hobby; it's also a fantastic way to stay active and fit. Fresh air, physical movement, and the joy of tending to your plants – it's a winning combination.
I don’t want to scare you, by giving you the impression that flower gardening is hard work. Gardening can be as strenuous as you want it to be.
Now that I'm in my fifties and juggling a full-time job, I have no desire to dig over my cutting patch every year. Luckily, we now know that excessive digging harms the soil and the environment. So, by adopting the no-dig method, you can make gardening a breeze while also doing your part for the planet – a true win-win situation.
I've incorporated many time-saving tricks and techniques in my gardening routine to achieve more with less effort. Check out the rest of the blog for more lazy gardening ideas – because who says gardening can't be relaxing?
Let your rooms bloom along with your flowers.
Why limit yourself to the colours and styles of bouquets available at supermarkets? With a cut flower garden, you can grow a variety of flowers in your preferred colours. Whether you're into pastels or brights, there's a flower to suit every taste. You can even have different flowers for different rooms, perfectly coordinated with your decor.
The choices are endless. You can unleash your creativity and create simple or grand arrangements to brighten up your home, bringing a fresh burst of beauty with each passing season.
Be a friend to bees and butterflies.
In recent years, there has been a worrying decline in insect populations across Britain. Flowers are hugely beneficial for bees, butterflies and insects, providing food and habitats for them.
A flower patch bursting with colour will attract a plethora of insects within weeks of blooming, creating a thriving ecosystem. The buzzing bees and fluttering butterflies will also help pollinate your flowers, ensuring their seeds for years to come.
By providing flowers from early to late in the season, you're doing your part to support these important pollinators.
Sow seeds and invest in your future.
When you sow seeds, you're planting seeds of hope for the future. Each seed represents a flag of optimism, waving in anticipation of what's to come.
Hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Hope for growth and abundance.
Hope that you're an integral part of nature's journey.
So, why wait? Start your own cutting garden and embrace this flower adventure! If you are ready to buy your seeds I have all of the easy cut flower seeds to grow in my shop (aff). Shop Now
Learn more about how to start and grow a cut flower garden in this series of blog posts:
- The 9 Benefits of Starting a Cutting Garden
- How to Start a Cut Flower Garden – 7 easy steps
- What’s the Best Cutting Garden Layout: How Much Space Do You Need?
- The Tools You Need to Create a Cut Flower Garden
- Cutting Garden Plan: What Makes a Good Cut Flower Garden
- When to Start a Cut Flower Garden For Beginners
- How to Grow Flowers For Cutting: Flower Bed Maintenance
- Flower Bed Maintenance: A Guide To Watering
And if you want to do it with the minimum of trouble find out the mistakes I made in starting my flower patch.
