It’s Lawn & Garden Month! What better time to start a flower-cutting garden?
Zebulon’s warm climate and fertile soil make it a great location for growing a variety of flowers. Starting a cut flower garden may seem overwhelming if you’re new to gardening, but with careful planning and preparation, you can have a thriving garden in no time.
- Choose a location: The first step in starting a cut flower garden is selecting the right location. Look for an area in your yard that receives at least six hours of sunlight each day. Make sure the soil is well-drained and fertile. If your soil is clay-heavy, you may want to amend it with organic matter, such as compost or peat moss. If you don’t have enough sunny space, look for flowers that will do well in part shade when choosing flowers.
- Decide on the flowers: Next, decide on the flowers you want to grow. Consider choosing a mix of annuals and perennials, so you have a variety of blooms throughout the growing season. Some popular cut flowers that grow well in Zebulon include zinnias, sunflowers, daisies, asters, and dahlias. You may also want to add foliage plants, such as ferns and ornamental grasses, for added texture and interest.
- Start seeds or buy plants: Once you have selected your flowers, you can start seeds indoors or buy plants from a local nursery. Starting seeds indoors can give you a head start on the growing season, but buying plants can save you time and ensure that you have healthy plants to start with.
- Prepare the soil: Before planting your flowers, prepare the soil by removing any weeds and adding compost or other organic matter. You may also want to test your soil pH to make sure it is within the appropriate range for the plants you want to grow.
- Plant your flowers: Once the soil is prepared, it’s time to plant your flowers. Follow the planting instructions for each type of flower, taking care to space them appropriately and water them well after planting.
- Maintain your garden: To keep your cut flower garden looking its best, it’s important to maintain it throughout the growing season. This includes watering regularly, fertilizing as needed, and deadheading spent blooms to encourage more flowers to grow.
- Harvest your flowers: Finally, it’s time to harvest your flowers. When harvesting, choose blooms that are just starting to open and cut them early in the morning when they are at their freshest. Use sharp, clean scissors or shears, and cut the stems at an angle to ensure they can take up water easily.
Starting a cut flower garden for your Zebulon home can be a fun and rewarding experience. With a little planning and preparation, you can have a beautiful garden that provides you with fresh flowers all season long.
If you feel overwhelmed, start small. Many cutting flowers will thrive in pots. Need help? Head out to a garden center and dig in. There are a few locally owned garden centers such as Chris’ Greenhouse on Pine Ridge Rd in Zebulon and Macon Gardens in Wake Forest.
