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Late-summer flowers on the kitchen table

Dahlias, cosmos and one branch of something going over — under a tenner.

Home · under £10 · 3 min read

A jug of dahlias and cosmos in soft colours on a scrubbed kitchen table

August and September are the cheapest weeks of the year for good flowers. Dahlias are everywhere, cosmos are practically weeds, and the hedgerows are full of things you're allowed to cut.

The idea

One jug, not a vase. Jugs hold stems at the angle they grew at, which is why supermarket flowers look better in a jug than in the cellophane's own bouquet shape.

The three-part rule

  • One big thing: three dahlias, or two sunflowers going slightly floppy.
  • One airy thing: cosmos, ammi, or a few stems of grass from a verge.
  • One woody thing: a short branch of blackberry, rosehip or beech. Free.

Making them last

  1. Cut every stem at a sharp angle, under running water if you can.
  2. Strip every leaf that would sit below the water line — leaves in water are what makes a jug smell.
  3. Change the water every other day. It matters more than flower food.
  4. Keep it off the windowsill. Direct afternoon sun halves the life of dahlias.

The affordable version

A £4 supermarket bunch plus a free hedgerow branch beats a £15 bouquet every time. Bin the gypsophila that comes with it.

My SZN editorial inspiration — our own seasonal idea, not a listing for a verified external event.

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