How to cut sunflowers so they last
How to cut sunflowers so they last by following just a few simple tips.
Around here, my sunflowers and I are great friends during the summer months…..and it’s been a fantastic relationship. And with summer officially wrapping up, the last of my bounty will be slowing down for the season.
If you have ever wanted to grow sunflowers, they are relatively easy to grow…you just need a bit of space as the flower stems are tall. I actually just sow sunflower seeds right in the ground starting in the spring and stagger the planting through July, so I can have lots of flowers for most of the summer.
How to cut sunflowers so they last
I want to share a few easy tips on how to cut sunflowers and what to do with them right after so they last a bit longer in your arrangements.
1. Cut the sunflowers in the morning after the dew dries but before the temperatures warm up and cause the flowers to wilt.
2. Cut your flowers with your cutting shears or garden scissors at a 45-degree angle.
3. Immediately place your cut sunflowers in a bucket of water (room temperature). This will prevent future wilting of your sunflowers.
4. I usually leave my flowers in a bucket for at least a few hours. First, to make sure that any little bugs get off the blooms, and second so that the stems can absorb as much water as possible prior to arranging.
5. I find using cool water in my vase is sometimes just as effective as using flower preservatives, bleach, or lemon-lime soda. Use whatever works for you. Cut off the bottom inch of each sunflower stem, while it’s still submerged in the bucket, at an angle before transferring it to the vase. Replace the water in the vase every couple of days to extend the life of the sunflowers. This to me is the most important thing to do with any flowers.
For more of my tips from the garden click here.
Got a garden tip or question that I can answer for you? Leave it for me in the comments or email me at ljanning@dukemanorfarm.com.
grateful
for the gift of nature…and pretty flowers
I absolutely LOVE sunflowers! Wish is had a spot to grow some. Yours are gorgeous!
I love the sunflowers , love your new web page but sure miss your last words…..thankful for…..I always enjoyed reading that each day. Enjoy this cooling weather and the closing of summer.
I have been reading your posts for some time but never commented. 🙂 I like the new look and name but like another poster mentioned, I miss the “Thankful for” at the end of each post. That was really a unique ending that made me think of those things I am thankful for.
Like you, I love sunflowers and our country roads are lined with them this time of year. I always look forward to them each year and think of them as the exclamation mark of the long summer. May fall extend that exclamation mark and lead to a gentle winter. Blessings on your home.
I love sunflowers, and you look adorable out there gardening! Maybe one of these days I’ll give it a try, but I don’t have to much luck in the gardening area:)
You are inspiring me to try and grow some!! BFF for Fall? Fall antique shows!!
Thanks for the bff tip, but I bought some new furniture and sadly have no money for shopping. Show generally = $$$.
Love sunflowers and yours are so pretty! Great pics and I need to try growing some next year so I don’t have to buy them at the store.
Thanks. It’s usually a race to see who can get to them first, me or the bee’s.
Thanks for the tips. Every time I try to grow sunflowers they keel over! Should I stake them? Love to have them but usually buy them! ;-D
Jane x
Hi Jane, I plant mine fairly close together so they use each other for support. You almost want them crowded to avoid the fall. Hope you are having a great week!
Beautiful the sunflower and the lady standing in the sunflowers 😉
oh cut it out now! 🙂 I will be in your next of the woods next thursday afternoon. wanna try to meet up again?
Hi…do you have a problem with the yellow pollen getting on counter tops, after bringing your sunflowers in? Mine drop a dust of it all over the counter..grr
not really from the sunflowers. I do with daylilys though. not a problem on the counters more like my hands.
Love Sunflowers!!!