Growing shrubs from hardwood and semi-ripe cuttings in the spring
Growing shrubs from hardwood and semi-ripe cuttings in the spring is a great way to propagate new plants. Here’s a summary of the process and some tips
- Choosing the Right Shrubs: Certain shrubs are more suited to propagation from cuttings. For hardwood cuttings, plants like Ribes, Cornus, Salix, Forsythia, Vitus, and Sambucus are good choices. For semi-hardwood cuttings, shrubs like forsythia, weigela, and sambucus are suitable.
- Preparing Hardwood Cuttings: Select wood that has matured after a full growing season. Cut stems about the thickness of a pencil, about 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) long. Make a clean, sloping cut above a bud at the top and a straight cut below a bud at the base. The cuttings can be planted directly outdoors in a sheltered site with well-drained soil, with two-thirds of the cutting buried.
- Caring for hardwood Cuttings: After planting, ensure the cuttings do not dry out. For species that root slowly or if outdoor conditions are unsuitable, you can heal the cuttings into a frame filled with moist sand until spring. In early spring, before the buds break, transplant them into a trench, keeping the same depth as overwintered.
- https://gardenadvice.co.uk/gardening-how-to/garden-plants/growing-from-hardwood-cuttings/
- Semi-Hardwood Cuttings: In spring, as the new growth on shrubs begins to harden, it’s a good time to take semi-hardwood cuttings. These cuttings are best taken from new spring growth that is starting to harden off.
- Rooting and Potting: Softwood and semi-ripe cuttings generally develop a healthy network of roots within about six weeks. Once rooted, the cuttings can be potted up in a soil and perlite mixture and placed in a sunny spot. They can be transferred to a sheltered nursery bed in the fall and then moved to a more permanent location in the spring.
- https://gardenadvice.co.uk/blog/free-garden-plants-this-autumn/
- https://gardenadvice.co.uk/gardening-how-to/container-gardens/hydrangea-cuttings/
For more detailed information and a complete list of suitable plants, you can visit the GardenAdvice pages on growing shrubs from cuttings