How to Create a Beautiful Cutting Bed: Your Complete Guide to Growing Flowers for the Vase
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Stephen Teeuw
- How to plant Bulbs - Autumn planting bulbs
- 17 Jun 2025
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150views
There’s something deeply satisfying about stepping outside, scissors in hand, and gathering fresh flowers straight from your garden to bring indoors. A cutting bed allows you to enjoy beautiful blooms both in your home and your outdoor space, giving you the best of both worlds.
We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about creating your own cutting garden with expert care tips that will keep your vases full all season long.
What Is a Cutting Bed?
A cutting bed (or cutting garden) is a dedicated space in your garden where you grow flowers specifically for cutting and arranging indoors. Unlike a traditional ornamental border designed for looks, a cutting bed is planted with the purpose of harvesting blooms regularly, so the design focuses on productivity, variety, and succession planting rather than formal aesthetics.
But they can look pretty spectacular anyway!
Why Create a Cutting Garden?
- Decide how you want your bouquet to look from a great selection.
- Be safe in the knowledge that you know how your flowers have been grown.
- Reduced your carbon footprint by saving on transport costs. Cut flowers often travel in cooled containers!
- Continuous blooms provide flowers for your home, gifts or special occasions. (I’m always giving bunches of flowers from my garden as gifts)
- Bringing the garden indoors. If your home is your sanctuary, adorn your shelves and table tops with perfectly curated vases.
- Your outdoor space will be a riot of colour.
Easy to Grow & Care For
- Plant your bulbs in well-drained soil with good sunlight.
- Mix varieties for longer blooming and fuller bouquets.
- Cut flowers early in the morning, when they're at their freshest.
- Remove leaves below the waterline in your vase to keep water clean.
Planning Your Cutting Bed
You dont need lots of space, and starting small can sometimes be the best option. Dedicate a square metre.
Choose the Right Location
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Full Sun: Most cutting flowers thrive in at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight.
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Well-Drained Soil: Avoid waterlogged areas. Raised beds work beautifully for cutting gardens.
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Sheltered Spot: Protect taller blooms from strong winds which can damage stems.
Design Your Bed Layout
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Allocate space for multiple varieties.
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Plant in rows or blocks for easy access when cutting.
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Allow for pathways to avoid stepping on soil and damaging plants.
Plan for Succession Planting
Stagger your planting times and choose varieties with different bloom periods to ensure a continuous supply of fresh flowers throughout the growing season. Dahlias for example are perfect because the plant will generate more flowers where as tulips only have one flower per stem.
Best Flowers for Your Cutting Bed
Spring Bulbs: The Foundation of Your Cutting Garden
Tulips (Single & Double Cutting Mixtures):
Tulips offer vibrant colours, strong stems, and long vase life. Plant a mix of singles and doubles for a varied, lush bouquet.
Shop Tulip Cutting Mixture – Single
Shop Tulip Cutting Mixture – Double
Daffodils (Narcissus):
Cheerful and fragrant, daffodils bring early spring colour and pair beautifully with tulips in arrangements.
Summer Annuals and Perennials
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Zinnias – Bright, long-lasting blooms.
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Cosmos – Airy, delicate flowers that add movement.
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Sweet Peas – Fragrant and romantic.
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Ranunculus & Anemones – Gorgeous for early summer bouquets.
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Alliums – Bold architectural interest for mixed bouquets.
How to Care for Your Cutting Bed
Planting Tips
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Plant bulbs in autumn
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Use quality compost and ensure good drainage.
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Space bulbs and plants according to package guidelines to allow air circulation.
Watering & Feeding
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Water regularly, especially in dry spells.
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Use a balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season for strong, healthy plants.
Cutting Tips
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Cut early in the morning when flowers are most hydrated.
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Use clean, sharp snips to avoid damaging stems.
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Place cut stems immediately into cool water.
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Remove lower leaves before placing in a vase to prevent rot.
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Refresh vase water every 2 days and trim stems regularly for longer vase life.
When to Cut Flowers
Flower Type |
Best Cutting Time |
Tulips |
When buds show full colour but are still closed |
Daffodils |
When buds just begin to open |
Zinnias |
When fully open and firm |
Cosmos |
When first flower opens |
Roses |
When buds are half-open |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Cutting too late in the day, the flowers wilt faster.
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Cutting when flowers are fully open, leading to a shorter vase life.
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Overcrowding plants, this leads to poor airflow and disease.
A Cutting Bed Brings Joy Year-Round
Creating your own cutting bed is one of the most rewarding ways to garden. You’ll enjoy weeks of fresh flowers, save money, and fill your home with the colours and scents of your own handiwork. With a little planning and care, your cutting garden will quickly become one of your favourite parts of the garden.
Get inventive but adding other flowers that are good for cutting and mixing your flowers. Ornithogalum Socchi, Ismene, Acidanthera, Gladioli, the list is endless!
Remember that Daffodils have a poisonous sap that will make other flowers wilt. Keep them in a separate vase.
And make sure you have enough containers!
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