As a florist, one of the first things I tell new flower arrangers is that keeping flowers fresh begins the moment you bring them home. Start by trimming the stems about one inch at an angle using clean, sharp scissors or floral shears. Cutting at an angle increases the surface area that can absorb water and prevents the stem from sitting flat on the bottom of the vase. It’s also important to remove any leaves that would fall below the waterline, since submerged leaves break down quickly and encourage bacteria that can shorten the life of your flowers.