We Asked a Rose Expert How to Create the Best Bouquet

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a classic bouquet of freshly bloomed roses? Not only are they the most sought-after flower for gift-giving (especially when it comes to romance), they’re practically synonymous with the holiday. 

If you’re looking to add a little pep to grocery store bouquets or want to try your hand at thoughtfully creating your own arrangement, there are a few rose-related tips you might not know about.

Gracie Poulson, founder of Grace Rose Farm, is an expert on arranging roses. Here are her best tips for getting the most out of your bouquets this season.

Gracie Poulson is the founder of Grace Rose Farm, which ships garden roses locally and around the country.

Grace Rose Farm

Gracie’s first tip is to choose a vessel that will give your roses enough space to fully open up—if they’re packed in too tight, they won’t bloom as fully as they would otherwise. This makes vessels with wide mouths the best option for rose bouquets.

Gracie recommends fluffing up the roses to make sure they’re not pressed together or squished.

The Spruce / Alyson Brown

One of the best ways to add a little extra hidden support to any flower bouquet is by creating a grid across the opening of your container using clear tape (or string/wire).

Leave enough space for a few stems to fit through the individual squares on the grid. The sides of each grid square will support the stems of your flowers, making sure they stand upright and don’t leave any gaps in your bouquet. 

Gracie recommends using clear floral tape for clear vessels. If you’re working with something opaque, this leaves you more options for support grids, since they won’t be visible from the exterior of the vase. Gracie opts for chicken wire or a