| Plant propagation is fun and easy. One of the easiest | | | | and cut off the stem about half an inch below the |
| ways to propagate certain types of plants is by | | | | leaf node. |
| taking and rooting cuttings. Plant cuttings are parts of | | | | Hardwood cuttings are more difficult to root than |
| a parent plant that are severed and then placed in a | | | | softwood cuttings, and it may take two to four |
| rooting medium, such as peat moss, soil or water, | | | | months for roots to form. The use of a rooting |
| until they root and can be replanted as a new plant. | | | | hormone will often ensure a better chance of your |
| Growing from cuttings produces a very predictable | | | | cutting rooting. Before you insert the cutting in the |
| product. | | | | rooting medium, scarify the lower part of the stem |
| There are 3 types of wood cuttings for propagating | | | | and then dip it into the rooting hormone. |
| your plant: softwood, hardwood and semi-hardwood. | | | | Hardwood cuttings generally will root successfully |
| I think the terms are fairly self-explanatory. | | | | when inserted in garden soil in the open. Select a |
| Softwood cuttings are taken in late spring and early | | | | protected area, then keep an eye on them over the |
| summer, before the shoots become woody and | | | | winter. Since hardwood cuttings are harvested in the |
| hard. Semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings are best | | | | least desirable growing season, they are slower to |
| taken late in summer, fall or early winter, from | | | | root, and often the percentage that will root is lower. |
| mature or last season's wood. | | | | However, don't give up on them too soon. I have |
| In this post, I'll just talk about hardwood cuttings. | | | | had cuttings take up to 8 months to root! Come |
| Most of the information is also applicable to | | | | early spring, transplant them to pots or to their |
| semi-hardwood cuttings. Since we're coming into fall, | | | | permanent home in your garden. |
| this is a great season to get these started for next | | | | Another alternative that I use is to put each cutting |
| year's plantings. Hardwood cuttings are much more | | | | into its own container of soil, and then bury the |
| durable than softwood cuttings which is why | | | | container to the rim in the garden. When the new |
| hardwoods are the best technique for the home | | | | rooted plant is ready to be moved to its permanent |
| gardener. | | | | location, it will be less stressed, as the roots are |
| All your cuttings should be collected from vigorous, | | | | contained, so disturbed less with replanting. |
| healthy plants that are free of insect pests, disease, | | | | Some of the landscape plants and herbs that I have |
| or nutrient deficiencies. Take cuttings a quarter to | | | | found easy to propagate this way are escallonia, |
| three-eighths inch in diameter (about the diameter of | | | | lavender, ivy, rosemary, sage, roses and figs. I am |
| a pencil or slightly larger), and generally four to six | | | | enthused to try even more this fall. So this fall, |
| inches long. Look for a stem that does not have a | | | | propagate some of your leafy shrubs, both |
| flower or a flower bud. Remove the lower leaves, | | | | deciduous and evergreen, by taking cuttings. |