Hardwood Cuttings

Last week we discussed how to get free exotic interior plants from Christmas pips and stones, well it’s just as easy to produce trees and shrubs from hardwood cuttings. These are taken between autumn and spring while the plants are dormant, and while they will take up to a year before there ready to be transplanted, it is an easy way to cheaply propagate new stock for your garden.

Plants suitable for hardwood cuttings include: Roses, Fruit (gooseberries, red, white & black currants, etc.) Trees, Climbers (honeysuckle, Jasmine) Shrubs (forsythia, buddleja, cornus etc.) and Evergreens (cotoneaster, holly, private & skimmia)

Taking the hardwood cuttings.

Using a good clean, sharp secateurs (to prevent/reduce risk of any fungal infections) cut long woody branches about the width of a pencil but no wider than your thumb. Cut these into sections about 8” long.

Make the bottom cut at a 45 degree angle just below a leaf node, as above. 

Cut the top straight across just above a leaf node. This way you won’t forget what’s top or bottom when you come to planting! You can plant either into the garden direct, trench in garden or as I prefer into a pot filled with well drained compost. Whatever way you decide to plant your cuttings – do mark what they are, you won’t remember what they are next autumn if you don’t. It’s another reason why I plant into pots, too many times while cleaning flower beds I’ve removed unmarked cuttings as rubbish!

Cuttings planted around edge of 40cm container.

Planting into pots, I place the cuttings around the edge about 3” apart, and about 2/3 of the cutting under compost. Water in well and place in a cool humid place for best results. I'll transplant these out next Autumn when they have developed a good root system of their own. Make sure they dont dry out in Summer, especially if you plant them in pots like I have ,as they'll dry out quicker than those planted in flowerbeds or trenches. For Evergreens you’ll need to cover with plastic from the start and mist with water to avoid them drying out.

As ever, happy gardening and don’t forget to keep the suggestions coming for item you’d like to see in the Blog