Taking Hardwood Cuttings From Shrubs

You can use hardwood cutting to grow most deciduous plants and trees although you may have success with strong evergreen varieties as well.

Taking hardwood cuttings from shrubs.

Hardwood cuttings are those taken from plants that are usually perennial including fruit plants trees climbers including vines and deciduous shrubs. Hardwood cutting or hardwood propagating refers to the process of growing new shrubs or trees from segments of dormant branches typically in the fall or winter. Then in autumn and early winter you can add hardwood cuttings to your bounty. First always clean your pruners or knife with rubbing alcohol or 1 part bleach and 9 parts water to prevent the spread of disease.

Start with cuttings from your plants or ask friends for their cuttings. September is a good time to take cuttings of many plants. In the old days gardeners propagated favorite shrubs by taking cuttings and sticking them in the ground. Hardwood cuttings are also only taken from shrubs bushes and trees that lose their leaves every year.

This method will not work with evergreen. But in a pinch hardwood cuttings can be taken anytime of the year. Some evergreen plants hollies for example can also be taken at the same time of year as other hardwood cuttings. Hardwoods are generally flowering plants such as rose bushes and softwoods are more often evergreen shrubs with softer branches.

Alternately plants like begonias propagate nicely from leaf cuttings so a specific tutorial is best. If it is a tree or shrub that produces suckers from the stems or roots use the suckers for your cuttings. At that time use sharp clean pruners to take six inch long pencil diameter cuttings from vigorous shoots on the plants you want to propagate. Softwood greenwood semi hardwood and hardwood.

Some plants such as half hardy perennials or tender shrubs may not make it through the winter so by taking cuttings you can ensure that you can enjoy them the following year taking cuttings in autumn is also a good way of increase your stock of your favourite plants. Plant cuttings are grouped into four basic categories. An example of a good plant for a hardwood cutting is angel s trumpet which produces trumpet shaped flowers that grow on vines. The process to take hardwood cuttings begins in the fall right after the leaves drop.

Nature is a survivor. Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs and vines see the suggested plant list in the fall after leaf drop and before the ground is frozen. The point of taking hardwood cuttings in non growth periods is more to do with doing as little harm to the parent plant as possible. Growing plants from cuttings is an excellent way to fill your garden with lush flowers herbs and other plants without spending any money.