Cuttings: hardwood

Most deciduous

Deciduous refers to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) that lose their leaves seasonally, usually during autumn. This is a natural process triggered by the season's shorter days and lower temperatures and allows plants to conserve energy during the winter months. shrubs including: Abelia, Deutzia, Buddleja (butterfly bush), Cornus (dogwood), Forsythia, Philadelphus (mock orange) Ribes (flowering currant), Rosa (rose), and Symphoricarpos and viburnums.

Many climbers can be propagated by hardwood cuttings

Hardwood cuttings are taken from mid-autumn until late winter from vigorous healthy shoots of the current year's growth - this will be woody but pliable. Use for deciduous climbers, shrubs, trees (including fruit) and some evergreens such as hollies. : Vitis (vines), Lonicera (honeysuckle), Jasminum, and Parthenocissus.

Fruit, including: gooseberries, black, red and white currants, fig, mulberry.

Trees, including: Platanus (plane), Populus (poplars) and Salix (willow)

Although usually restricted to deciduous plants, some evergreen cuttings

A method of growing new plants from parts of an existing plant, such as sections of root, stem, leaf or bud. When prepared correctly and planted in the right conditions, they can produce roots and eventually become independent plants. There is a wide range of different methods for taking cuttings, depending on the plant and time of year. can be taken at the same time as hardwood cuttings including Cotoneaster, Ilex (holly), Ligustrum (privet) and Skimmia. The best technique for taking evergreen cuttings at this time of year is that used for semi-ripe cuttings.

Hardwood cutting are taken in the dormant

Dormancy refers to a period of inactivity in plants, during which they slow down or stop their growth, conserving energy and resources. This is a natural process that helps them survive harsh conditions, such as winter or drought. Dormancy in seeds is a mechanism that prevents them germinating until environmental conditions are favourable for growth. season (mid-autumn until late winter) after leaf fall, avoiding periods of severe frost

A severe frost is a frost with a temperature below -5°C (23°F). . The ideal time is just after leaf fall or just before bud

A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers. -burst in spring.

Although this type of cutting may be slow to develop roots and shoots, it is usually successful.

The cuttings

A method of growing new plants from parts of an existing plant, such as sections of root, stem, leaf or bud. When prepared correctly and planted in the right conditions, they can produce roots and eventually become independent plants. There is a wide range of different methods for taking cuttings, depending on the plant and time of year. can generally be forgotten about until the following year, as the cut surface undergoes a period of callusing over the winter from which roots will develop in the spring.

Hardwood cuttings

Hardwood cuttings are taken from mid-autumn until late winter from vigorous healthy shoots of the current year's growth - this will be woody but pliable. Use for deciduous climbers, shrubs, trees (including fruit) and some evergreens such as hollies. are often grown on outdoors in the ground in a prepared trench. However, if you are only taking a small number, you can grow them on in containers too. Some, dogwoods for example, benefit from protection with cloches or coldframe.

Hardwood cuttings grown on outdoors

• Select vigorous healthy shoots that have grown in the current year
• Remove the soft tip growth
• Cut into sections 15-30cm (6in-1ft) long, cutting cleanly above a bud
  A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers. at the top, with a sloping cut to shed water and as a reminder which end is the top
• Cut straight across at the base below a bud or pair of buds
  A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers. and dip the lower cut end in a hormone
  Chemical substances that regulate plant growth and development. There are several types of plant hormones, including auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid and ethylene. These hormones play important roles in processes such as cell division, elongation and differentiation, as well as in responses to environmental stimuli such as light and gravity. rooting compound such as Clonex if available. Cut though the ‘heel’ where the shoot joins a branch for shrubs with pithy stems such as Sambucus (elder)
• Prepare a trench outdoors in a sheltered site with well-drained soil. Dig in a bucketful of garden compost
  Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. or other organic matter every square metre or yard
• Insert the cuttings
  A method of growing new plants from parts of an existing plant, such as sections of root, stem, leaf or bud. When prepared correctly and planted in the right conditions, they can produce roots and eventually become independent plants. There is a wide range of different methods for taking cuttings, depending on the plant and time of year. into the ground or pot with two-thirds of the cutting below the surface, with a layer of sand in the base. The roots will form along the stem. A few buds remain above the ground to allow the plant to grow away in spring. Where a single stemmed plant is aimed for, such as Populus or gooseberry, either leave only one bud above ground or rub off surplus buds
• Allow 10-15cm (4-6in) between cuttings and 40cm (16in) between trenches
• Check the trench after frosts and firm back if required
• Cuttings should be left in place until the following autumn ensuring that they do not dry out in dry periods in summer

Hardwood cuttings of slow rooting plants

If outdoor conditions are unsuitable, or for slow rooting plants, bundles of 10 to 12 cuttings can be temporarily planted in a frame or pot filled with moist sand until the spring. Cornus and Laburnum are examples of hardwood cuttings which may take longer to root.

In early spring, before the buds break, make a trench 12.5cm (5in) deep and set the cuttings out as described above.

If you need more than one row, space them 30-40cm (1ft-16in) apart. Firm the soil around the cuttings.

The following autumn the cuttings should have rooted and can be planted out or potted on as required.

Hardwood cuttings in containers

If you are only taking a few cuttings, there is no need to dig a trench as outlined above, simply insert cuttings into deep containers of gritty potting medium such as 50:50 coarse grit and multi-purpose compost. Keep the pots in a sheltered cold frame

Cold frames are glaze box-like structures made from brick or wood with a  hinged or removable, glazed, sloping lid. Useful to protect plants from cold weather over winter or acclimatise (harden off) young plants in spring and provide extra warmth for tender crops in summer. or unheated greenhouse until the following autumn, ensuring that they do not dry out.

In cold winters or regions hardwood cuttings

Hardwood cuttings are taken from mid-autumn until late winter from vigorous healthy shoots of the current year's growth - this will be woody but pliable. Use for deciduous climbers, shrubs, trees (including fruit) and some evergreens such as hollies. may root better with protection from a coldframe, cloches or inside a frost free

Frost-free environments, such as a cool greenhouse or conservatory, have a nighttime minimum of 4°C (39°F). This is ideal for plants tolerant of low temperatures, but will not survive being frozen, such as tender plants being overwintered including pelargoniums; frost-tender rooted cuttings such as penstemon; and bedding plants in spring. building.

Cuttings

A method of growing new plants from parts of an existing plant, such as sections of root, stem, leaf or bud. When prepared correctly and planted in the right conditions, they can produce roots and eventually become independent plants. There is a wide range of different methods for taking cuttings, depending on the plant and time of year. will need to be protected from rabbits and deer if they are a local problem. Mouse and rat control may also be needed.