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* Gardening & Plants
* Landscaping
* Interior Design
* Home Improvement





The Propagation of Shrubs

The holly bush can be easily propagated by taking a semi-hardwood cutting.

Starting plants from seeds is less costly than buying them from a
nursery, but the seeds of most shrubs fail to sprout, and those that do
take years to become garden-ready. Coveted shrubs that are difficult to
start from seed can be propagated asexually from existing plants.
Vegetative techniques can be used on a variety of shrubs, both hardy and
tender, effectively increasing the quantity of foliage in the landscape
without spending a penny.


1.

Softwood Cuttings


* Softwood cuttings, taken when new bark is still supple, root
quickly and easily. Plan to take cuttings from spring-blooming
shrubs, such as lilac, viburnum and azalea, in late spring or early
summer. Select a branch, looking for wood that is pliable, but firm,
then remove a stem, cutting just below the fourth set of leaves.
Pull off the lowest pair of leaves, then remove the bark from the
bottom of the stem with a sharp knife. Insert the cutting into a
small container filled with damp potting soil. Cover the newly
planted stem with a plastic bag to prevent dehydration while the new
roots form.





Hardwood Cuttings


* Hardwood cuttings are taken from deciduous shrubs after their
leaves have fallen. They root more slowly than cuttings taken in the
spring, but they require much less attention. Many shrubs, including
the dogwood, mock orange and butterfly bush, root easily from
hardwood cuttings. Choose a stem that is firm and about the same
thickness as a pencil, then cut off a 6-inch section. Submerge the
base of the cutting in lukewarm water and let it sit for five
minutes, then push the cut end 3 to 4 inches into the ground. Firm
the soil around the base of the cutting to remove any potential air
pockets, and water the stem thoroughly.





Semi-Hardwood Cuttings


* Conifers, such as the dwarf white pine, and broad-leaved
evergreens, such as boxwood, holly and cotoneaster, can also be
propagated by cuttings. Taken in midsummer, these stems are known as
semi-hardwood cuttings. Choose a well-developed shoot that has soft,
new growth prominently displayed at the tip, and remove a 4-inch
section. Strip the lower leaves, creating a short section of bare
stem to insert into the soil. Cuttings taken during the summer will
easily flourish outdoors and can be placed directly into the ground.
Water the stems lightly once a week to keep the surrounding soil
moist.





Layering


* Layering is a propagation technique that is commonly used for
shrubs with low-hanging branches, such as the laurel. In the spring,
the tips of the branches are bent to the ground and buried. The
foliage is held in place with pins or covered with rocks until new
roots form. Simple layering works well for shrubs with cascading
branches, such as the hydrangea. It is similar to tip layering, but
the middle of the stem is buried in the ground, rather than the tip,
creating roots in the middle of the branch.






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