A Florist’s Most Essential Tools
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Clippers/Knife
Clippers are probably one of the most important tools when it comes to decorating with fresh or faux flowers and greenery. Flowers come in many shapes and sizes, and clippers allow you to to tailor the stem-length to the project at hand. Using sharp and disinfected clippers is the first step to creating cuts in the flowers that will not crush the stems or introduce excess bacteria, shortening the flowers’ lifespan.
Many professional florists prefer to use a floral knife in some circumstances. Always use caution when handling a knife and choose clippers if you are more comfortable using those.
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Spool Wire
When a long, continuous wire is wound around a plastic spool it is known as “spool wire.” Florists use spool wire to bind greenery together to make swags, wire flowers onto a wreath frame, or create a flowing garland of greens. Spool wire comes in several different “gauges,” or thicknesses to suit your project. The green-colored wire remains tangle free as you roll it off the spool. Then, simply cut it when you are finished, leaving the remaining wire for your next project.
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Wire Cutters
And speaking of cutting wires, you will need wire cutters to cut spool wire or anything that’s made of metal. Wire cutters come in different sizes, appropriate for cutting various gauges of wire or metal. Wire cutters can also be used for cutting faux flowers whose stems contain a wire core.
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Zip Ties
You may be surprised to learn that florists often use zip ties (also known as cable ties) to secure decorations. There are many advantages to using zip ties. They are inexpensive and can be easily cut with scissors. They come in a range of colors, so you can choose the ones that will blend in and disappear within your design. It is also easy to make them smaller, with a satisfying “zip,” or bigger by linking multiple together. Zip ties can hold the weight of heavy decorations and their ribbed texture prevents slipping and sliding on surfaces like doorways or banisters. Because they are made of plastic, they are unlikely to scratch or damage wooden surfaces like wire sometimes can.
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Fishing Line
One of the easiest ways to make your decorating look more professional is to disguise the “mechanics” that are holding your wreaths, garlands, or flower stems in place. Dangling cords, exposed tape, or brazen hooks can detract from the overall look of your decorations, so consider using a clear fishing line to secure decorations. Like wire, fishing line comes in different thicknesses, so check the package to find the type that will hold the weight of your project.
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Ribbons
Ribbons can be used to accent your floral decor with beautiful colors and textures. But it can also be frustrating when you can’t get your bow to look just right. Wired ribbon can be easier to work with because the sewn-in wires provide a backbone to help the bow hold its shape. Ribbons can also be used to cover up some of those more unsightly mechanics like chains, tape, wires, or zip ties. There are so many ribbons to choose from, you can really let your creativity run wild.
Use these tools when swapping out your seasonal decor, and you might have your guests wondering if you hired a professional decorator. You may also find that you save yourself time by having the proper tools on hand to get the job done quickly and easily. These professional florist tools will help you to turn your vision into reality.
This article was published by Chad Kremp
