A step-by-step guide to propagating plants from cuttings in spring
Propagating plants from cuttings is a valuable skill to know, as you can multiply plants in your own garden for free, and then have them on hand to fill gaps should they come up.
Cuttings I took in the autumn are now big enough to slot into the empty spaces in my border.
Perennials such as salvia, chrysanthemum and dahlia always strike well from cuttings and are very fast growing so come in handy at this time of year for filling gaps in the border. Roses and hydrangeas are easy to propagate too, but take a couple of years to bulk up – so take this into consideration when planning.
Spring is a good time to take cuttings from perennials, like scented geranium, penstemon and Verbena bonariensis which should be big enough. Your woody herbs, such as sage, rosemary and lavender, which will be having the first flush of flowers now, are ripe for cuttings.
Salvia ‘Caradonna’ with spring perennials
A step-by-step guide to propagating plants from cuttings
1. Choose the right cuttings by identifying lateral shoots that are healthy with no flower or bud.
2. Cut with sharp snips and place in a ziplock bag to prevent lose of moisture from the cutting.
3. Strip lower leaves with no more than two sets of leaves remaining at the top.
4. Select a free draining propagation mix that includes a combination of potting soil and pumice or sand.
5. Insert plant material around the edges so that the stem is touching the side of the pot. This encourages the root to grow straight down in search of moisture and means they are less likely to dry out.
6. Water and place in a ziplock bag over the top to keep up humidity.
7. In warm weather cuttings should root in as little as 6 days, but wait several weeks for strong, healthy roots to develop.
8. Individually pot on each cutting.
9. Water with a seaweed tonic and allow cuttings to mature further before transplanting to the garden.
