Now that I have my own garden, I can cut fresh flowers for arrangements, which I absolutely enjoy doing. Tips: Cut the flowers with stems long enough for your vase. When possible, cut the flowers just as they are opening. This will give them a longer vase life. Use green foliage plants to add color and to help with placement. Pick stems that have a V, so you can use the V to criss-cross the stems and help them stay in place.