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.
Taking hardwood cuttings from shrubs.
If it is a tree or shrub that produces suckers from the stems or roots use the suckers for your cuttings.
This method will not work with evergreen.
Alternately plants like begonias propagate nicely from leaf cuttings so a specific tutorial is best.
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.
Depending on whether it s a softwood ripe wood or hardwood cutting there are a few different things to know.
Hardwood cuttings are those taken from plants that are usually perennial including fruit plants trees climbers including vines and deciduous shrubs.
An example of a good plant for a hardwood cutting is angel s trumpet which produces trumpet shaped flowers that grow on vines.
In the old days gardeners propagated favorite shrubs by taking cuttings and sticking them in the ground.
In summer you can take cuttings from tender perennials and shrubs to propagate them.
Plant cuttings are grouped into four basic categories.
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.
Nature is a survivor.
Softwood greenwood semi hardwood and hardwood.
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.
Hardwood cuttings are also only taken from shrubs bushes and trees that lose their leaves every year.
But in a pinch hardwood cuttings can be taken anytime of the year.
Hardwood cuttings provide an easy and reliable method of propagating a range of deciduous climbers trees and shrubs and as bonus they are taken from mid autumn until late winter when more time is usually available to the gardener.
Then in autumn and early winter you can add hardwood cuttings to your bounty.
The process to take hardwood cuttings begins in the fall right after the leaves drop.
Some evergreen plants hollies for example can also be taken at the same time of year as other hardwood cuttings.
First always clean your pruners or knife with rubbing alcohol or 1 part bleach and 9 parts water to prevent the spread of disease.
September is a good time to take cuttings of many plants.
You can use hardwood cutting to grow most deciduous plants and trees although you may have success with strong evergreen varieties as well.
Start with cuttings from your plants or ask friends for their cuttings.
