Growing a flower garden has always been a dream of mine, and this year I finally made it happen using a layout inspired by the book Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein of Floret Flowers. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your bloom game, this post shares exactly how I got started, what worked (and what didn’t!), and how you can recreate a similar layout at home.
Why I Chose to Grow a Cut Flower Garden
Ever since discovering Floret Flower Erin Benzakein’s YouTube channel and book, I’ve been obsessed with the idea of having blooms not just for beauty—but for cutting, arranging, and gifting. I wanted a garden that was practical, productive, and stunning.
Here were my goals:
- Grow enough flowers for bouquets all summer
- Use a space-efficient layout (my space is 3ft x 20ft)
- Keep it low-cost and beginner-friendly
Tip: If you’re short on space, focus on high-performing annuals and succession planting. I’ll explain how I used that method below.
My Garden Layout: The 9″x9″ Grid
I used the 9”x9” spacing method from Floret’s book, which helped maximize my planting area. My bed was 3 feet wide by 20 feet long, which gave me room for ~108 plants in tightly spaced rows.
Here’s what the layout looked like:
Each square = one plant.
Tip: I used dried leaves from the fall for weed control, and it was a game-changer!
What I Planted
Here’s a list of what I planted this season. I picked a mix of showy focal flowers and sturdy fillers based on what is supposed to work well in my 8A zone (central North Carolina):
Focal Flowers:
- Zinnias
- Cosmos
- Dahlias
- Snapdragons
- Marigolds
- Poppies
- Gladiolus
- Echinacea
- Rudbeckia
- Chrysanthemum
- Anemones
- Ranunculus
Fillers:
- Ammi (False Queen Anne’s Lace)
- Celosia
- Scabiosa
- Lupines
- Larkspur
- Ageratum
- Dusty Miller
- Amaranthus
- Bupleurum
How I Started the Garden
Here’s a quick breakdown of how I prepped:
- Planning in Winter:
- Used Floret’s crop planning spreadsheet to figure out timing.
- Ordered seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Lowes, and used some I had leftover.
- Starting Seeds Indoors:
- Started seeds under grow lights in mid-February
- Used seed starting mix soil, vermiculite, seed trays + heat mats:
- Prepping the Beds:
- Tested the soil and made amendments.
- Put down dried leaves to serve as a weed barrier.
- Transplanting Out:
- Hardened off some of the seedlings in March.
- Transplanted seedlings in phases, starting in late March.
My Succession Planting Schedule
Succession planting helped me keep blooms going all summer.
Here’s what my general timeline looked like:
What I Learned (So You Don’t Have To)
- Plant more fillers! I should have followed Floret Flower’s recommendation and planted more – I always ran short when arranging bouquets.
- Stake early. Don’t wait for the wind to destroy your cosmos and snapdragons.
- Succession planting takes planning—but the payoff is constant blooms.
- Not everything will bloom! I went in expecting (really hoping) that all of my flowers would take off, and that just wasn’t the case. Plan accordingly and know that not all flowers will work out, and that’s okay! It’s all a part of the learning process and I’m looking forward to experimenting more next year.
Final Thoughts
Growing a garden from seed was more fulfilling than I expected—and more accessible, too. With just a little space and the right layout, you can grow armfuls of flowers to bring beauty into your life and others’. I hope this inspires you to try your own garden layout next season!
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