Dip the wounded section in powdered rooting hormone and shake off the excess.At the point where you want the contact stem to produce roots, gently scrape away about an inch of the outer bark.The stem tip should extend above ground for six to eight inches. Two to three inches of the stem should make contact with the soil (this section is known as the contact stem). Choose a lower branch that’s long and flexible enough to easily bend and reach the ground without snapping.This allows new plants to mature and gain size quickly in a familiar environment so that they continue to thrive when moved to a new location. But with either spring- or fall-layered plants, waiting a year or two before transplanting is better. Spring layered plants can be transplanted into the garden in the fall of the same year. The best time to layer is in early spring before leaves have emerged, but early fall works as well. Layering is an easy process that involves encouraging root development on a stem that’s still attached to the parent plant. Provide winter protection such as a mulch of pine needles or straw or a cloche to protect against frost as needed.Provide shelter in spots such as cold frames, against foundations, or tucked under trees and shrubs. Keep the containers in a sheltered spot in the garden until they can be planted out the following spring.Roots form in four to eight weeks, and new plants can be transferred to larger pots as needed.Water regularly, keeping the potting medium moist but not waterlogged.Set containers in a sheltered spot in the garden with bright, indirect light.Insert the lower third of each stem into a small container filled with a moist rooting medium, such as a combination of one-third compost, one-third peat moss or vermiculite, and one-third sand.Dip the cut end into powdered rooting hormone and gently shake to remove the excess. Lightly scrape the bark for two inches above the cut end with a sharp knife – just enough to remove the outer bark in a few spots.Remove leaves from the lower half and trim cut ends to just below a leaf node.Choose stems of one-year old wood that’s semi-flexible – they should bend without snapping. In spring, right after flowering, collect cuttings five to six inches in length taken from stem tips.This is the wood that’s still flexible, midway between tender new shoots and mature wood. Ideally, you’ll need to take semi-hardwood cuttings. The only way to ensure a clone of the parent plant is to propagate vegetatively, via stem cuttings or stem layering.Įvergreens are the easiest to propagate from cuttings, while deciduous varieties typically give the best results when layered.
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