Published: 23 June 2025

Summer is peak gardening season. And if you grow flowers, there’s no better time to enjoy the blooms. But while you can, of course, enjoy them outside, sometimes it’s nice to bring some indoors and use them to brighten up your home with some beautiful, seasonal floral displays. So, what do you need to know to make your own beautiful summer flower arrangements?

How to Use Summer Flowers for Beautiful DIY Arrangements?

Choose the right summer flowers

Not all flowers work well in a cut arrangement. They might look fabulous when fresh, but many have a very short vase life. So, start by selecting seasonal blooms that can make the effort of flower arranging worthwhile. Popular summer flowers include:

  • Sunflowers—Bold and cheerful, they add height and drama.
  • Zinnias—Available in a rainbow of colours, perfect for vibrant arrangements.
  •  Dahlias—Elegant and eye-catching, ideal for focal points.
  • Hydrangeas—Great for volume and a soft, romantic look.
  • Lavender—Adds fragrance and a rustic touch.
  • Roses—Classic and timeless, available in many summer-friendly varieties.

When creating beautiful summer flower arrangements, choose flowers that are fresh, locally grown if possible, and suit the aesthetic of the space you’re decorating.

Summer flower arranging tips

So, now you’ve got your flowers, what do you need to do with them?

Start with a focal point

Just like arranging a planter, the advice for cut flowers is to aim for a ‘thriller/pillar, a spiller, and some fillers.’ So, your thriller will be your central ‘wow’ bloom. Maybe a sunflower, gladioli, or dahlia to anchor your arrangement. That’s your core focus, and then you can build around it with smaller, complementary flowers. Hydrangeas make a fantastic filler, adding volume. While your spiller might be foliage—ferns or grasses—that splay over the edge of your vase.

Play with colour and texture

Summer is all about bold, vibrant hues. This year, the trend seems to be orange and hot pink. But to make those warm colours really pop, you can blend in cooler shades, such as lavender or pale blue. Grasses and tall-stemmed flowers, such as verbena bonariensis, can add an elegant, fluffy texture. While ferns and herbs can provide interest and grounding.

Use the right vase

Choosing the right vase is integral not only to the look of your arrangement but also to your flower’s life expectancy. So, while a mason jar might give a casual, country look, it might not provide the support that taller flowers need, leading to the stems snapping. A narrow ceramic or glass vase can feel refined but don’t try to overfill it.

Trim and refresh

When you’re preparing your flowers, it’s usually a good idea to cut stems at a 45-degree angle and remove any leaves that fall below the water line. You can repeat this process every few days to extend the life of your summer flower arrangement. Refreshing the water daily also helps.

Keep it cool

In hot weather, cut flowers tend not to last very long. By changing their water daily, and keeping arrangements out of direct sunlight, you can help to prolong their life. It can also be a good idea to keep your flowers away from drafts.

Flower arrangement ideas for summer

Garden party centrepiece: Combine roses, zinnias, and eucalyptus for a fresh and fabulous table.

Front porch welcome: Fill a rustic bucket with sunflowers, daisies, and all grasses to greet guests with colour and charm.

Minimalist chic: Arrange three or four tall stems of allium, lily, or gladiolus in a sleek vase for a modern look.

Creating beautiful summer flower arrangements is a lovely way to connect with the season and bring nature into your home. With the right summer flowers and a few styling tips, you can transform any corner of your home or garden into a vibrant, fragrant haven.

Plan your visit to Holker Hall & Gardens today.