How to Take Hardwood Cuttings
Make more of the trees and shrubs in your garden by taking hardwood cuttings in autumn. These take several months and sometimes up to a year to root but should be ready to pot up and plant out next autumn. Many plants can be propagated this way, such as cornus (dogwood), deutzia, weigela, hydrangea, buddleia (butterfly bush), roses, currants and most willows.
Difficulty Rating:
Time Length: 1 hour
Time of the Year: Sep, Oct, Nov
Fill large flowerpots or Root Trainers with a quality, gritty compost. John Innes No 1 Young Plants Compost is a good choice.
Firm down the compost and then water to remove any air pockets and to ensure good contact with the cuttings. Top up with more compost if necessary
Choose long ripened, woody stems that have had a year to mature from your chosen plants. Cut into sections by cutting straight across just beneath a bud using sharp secateurs.
Then cut off the top of the stem by cutting just above a bud with a cut that slopes down, but away from the buds. This is the top of the cutting. Continue to cut the stem into sections in this way. Each piece should be about as thick as a pencil.
Push each cutting deep into the compost with the sloping end uppermost and place in a cool, sheltered place for them to root. The cuttings need to be kept moist, but need little other attention. When they have rooted they can be repotted into larger pots of John Innes No 2 Potting-On Compost or planted out into the garden.
