Here's what your flowers need right now

This has been quite a season for the flowers. From peonies to roses, delphiniums to trollius, sweet peas to ligularia (OK, I will stop), this summer our yards are overflowing with blossoms. Setting aside my belief that gardening is a process and not one single moment in time, concentrating a bit on flowers this year makes a lot of sense. In fact, you can't help it.

There are two main schools of thought when it comes to enjoying flowers grown in the yard. The first is to leave them be, that is, not harvest any and simply enjoy them in place. The second is to cut them and use them in bouquets and as singles inside the house, at the office, in the car, on the deck and at the picnic table. Each school has its own pluses and minuses, but the common link is both are based on enjoying your flowers instead of taking them for granted.

Let's start with the easier of the two, keeping things natural. There really isn't too much to this beyond making sure the plants with tall, hollow or delicate stems are properly staked. We all know what happens to peonies when they are in bloom and it rains. And, looking at delphinium flowers that are upside down because they snapped under the weight of the flowers isn't much fun. Cages for foxgloves and hollyhocks isn't a bad idea. You know what needs supporting.

One of the big advantages of leaving things out in the gardens is that you also get to enjoy the seed pods. Many plants produce pods that are just as interesting and almost as beautiful as their flowers, peonies for one. Some plants produce seeds that then attract birds, a welcome addition to any flower garden.

Cutting flowers and taking them indoors involves a bit more work, obviously. You need to go out and actually cut the flowers and this needs to be done properly. This is predicated on a bit of plant physiology.

Flower stems are filled with water as this is what delivers nutrients to keep them going. This water flowers up through the stem, in part, due to cohesion and adhesion. (Check out my second book, "Teaming With Nutrients" to learn more.) Suffice to say when you cut a flower stem you break this column of water and air has a chance to get into it. This creates bubbles that cut off the water supply even when you put the stems in water.

So, this is why you should have a bucket of water with you out in the garden when you cut flowers. Immediately put stems into it. You can clean up the leaves and all after they are in water, it is that important to get them there fast. And when cutting, always use very sharp scissors or a sharp knife. You want a clean cut without jagged and ripped edges. Do not smash the bottoms of stems as some suggest.

Leaves under water in vases will rot and help bacteria to multiply. Like the air bubbles, these can clog the stems which is why you should remove leaves that will be under water and why they sell those little packets of powder to put into vase water. It is an acid and a bacteria killer and perhaps contains some nutrients. The easiest home substitute is 1 tablespoon of water, 1/2 teaspoon of bleach and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice added to a quart of water. And for goodness sake, if you do nothing else, change the water every day or every other day if you must wait.

Roses and peonies will open after cutting, so you can cut these in bud stages as you can glads and irises. Marigolds, dianthus, pansies, mums and sweat peas should be cut when open. Spire-type flowers like delphs and ligularia should be harvested as the first few flowers on the bottom are opening up. Cutting most flowers early in the morning will ensure that stems are full of water and nutrients.

Whether you cut flowers or leave them in the garden, some should be cut if you want them to flower again this season. Sweet peas are at the top of this list. Petunias, marigolds, snaps, begonias, roses, campanulas, delphiniums, scabiosia and zinnias will also bloom again in many cases if flowers are cut at the base of stems and plants left otherwise undamaged. This surely is the season to try.

Finally, whether you cut or leave your flowers, take lots of pictures. Whether you cut flowers or leave them, no one will believe what you grew come this winter when you are bragging.

Jeff’s Alaska Garden Calendar

Renee Shepherd lecture: My good friend Renee Shepherd speaks on July 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the BP Energy Center (900 E. Benson Blvd.). Renee owns Renee's Garden and knows her seeds. She is a great lecturer and gets my top recommendation. Go to alaskabg.org/event/renee-shepherd-lecture/ to get tickets.