How to Cultivate a Blooming Office Park: Tips for a Spectacular Cut Flower Garden
Welcome to Quorum Park’s Guide on Growing Gorgeous Cut Flower Gardens!
Are you ready to add a burst of colour and joy to your home garden or maybe your workspace? Here at Quorum Park have successfully grown a thriving cut flower space as part of our Allotment and Community Garden and we’re excited to share our tips and tricks with you.
From sweetpeas to dahlias, here’s everything you need to know to create a stunning cut flower garden of your own!
1. Selecting the Perfect Flowers
Opt for a variety of flowers: Mix and match different types of flowers like sweetpeas, marigolds, dahlias, cosmos, Amaranthus, zinnias, cornflowers, and love in a mist for a diverse and eye-catching display.
A mix on annuals, biannual and perennials will ensure colour for years to come, especially if you save seeds.
Stagger your seed sowing to have fresh growth throughout the year.
2. Prolonging Flowering
Deadheading: Regularly remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming and prevent the plants from putting energy into seed production.
Pruning: Trim back leggy growth and faded blooms to promote new growth and extend the flowering period.
Watering: Keep your flowers well-watered, especially during dry spells, to prevent premature wilting and encourage vibrant blooms.
3. Tips for Using Cut Flowers
Harvesting: Choose the best time to cut your flowers – early morning or late evening when they are well-hydrated. Use sharp scissors or pruners to make clean cuts.
Conditioning: Immerse the freshly cut stems in a bucket of water immediately. Allow them to rest in a cool, dark place for a few hours to rehydrate before arranging.
Vase Life: Add flower food to your vases to extend the life of cut flowers. Change the water every few days and recut the stems to keep them fresh.
4. Saving Seeds
Selecting Seeds: Choose the healthiest and most vibrant plants to save seeds from. Let the flowers mature and dry on the plant before harvesting.
Proper Drying: Once harvested, dry the seeds thoroughly in a cool, dry place. Store them in labelled envelopes or containers in a cool, dark, and dry location.
5. Wildflower Meadows
Rewilding Benefits: Transforming parts of your office park into wildflower meadows not only supports local biodiversity but also provides an excellent habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.
Choosing the Mix: Select a diverse wildflower mix that is suitable for your region’s climate and soil conditions.
Maintenance: Allow the wildflowers to grow naturally, but ensure they do not become invasive. Periodically remove or thin aggressive species if needed.
6. Companion Planting
Encourage biodiversity: Companion planting helps create a balanced ecosystem in your cut flower garden and can deter pests.
Attracting Beneficial Insects: Include plants like lavender, borage, and calendula to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects.
7. Compost and Soil Health
Soil Enrichment: Regularly amend the soil with compost or organic matter to promote healthy root growth and vibrant blooms.
Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect the soil from extreme temperatures.
8. Organic Pest Control
DIY Solutions: Use natural pest control methods like neem oil, insecticidal soap, or introducing beneficial insects to keep pests at bay.
Here at Quorum, in most instances we just let nature take it’s course.
9. Engaging Employees
Looking to launch a garden in your workplace? Launch green initiatives: Involve employees in the gardening process. Consider setting up gardening clubs or workshops to foster a sense of community and environmental responsibility.
Flower Arranging: Encourage employees to create their own flower arrangements to bring home, brightening their spaces and promoting wellbeing.
With these tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to cultivating a stunning cut flower garden at your office park, just like we did at Quorum Park. Get ready to enjoy in a riot of colours and uplifted spirits as you watch your beautiful flowers bloom and flourish! Happy gardening!
