Sharp knife important when cutting summer flowers

11:11 4th August 2010

Gardeners have been given some flower-cutting advice aimed at ensuring their summer plants do not get damaged.

The Press and Journal has reported that bulb flowers are the type that tend to be in season during the summer months, with many homeowners likely to want to bring their blooms indoors with them.

However, care should be taken when cutting flowers, with the publication suggesting that much thought should go into the type of knife used to complete the task.

"Always cut fresh flowers with a clean sharp knife, since a dull blade can crush the flower stem and reduce the amount of water (cold water for bulb flowers) that can reach the bloom," the news provider noted.

Further pieces of advice include cutting any stems at an angle to maximise the amount of water it takes in, while cutting the flowers in water can reduce air bubbles in the stems.

Dahlias are one example of a bulb plant and are good choices for gardeners as they can grow in almost any kind of soil and in virtually all locations.