How to propagate shrubs and trees from hardwood cuttings.
What are hardwood cuttings?
Hardwood or ripe cuttings are cuttings taken from a shrub or tree's first season of growth but late in the year in autumn or winter.
As their name suggests, the cuttings consist of stems that are firm, ripe and woody, which are taken from young wood that formed during the previous summer.
As their name suggests, the cuttings consist of stems that are firm, ripe and woody, which are taken from young wood that formed during the previous summer.
Which shrubs and trees are propagated from hardwood cuttings?
Hardwood cuttings are used for many fruit bushes such as gooseberry, red and blackcurrants, as well as many deciduous trees and shrubs.
Roses are also propagated in this way.
There are a few evergreen shrubs that are taken as hardwood cuttings but they are then treated as semi-ripe cuttings when it comes to preparation and propagation.
Roses are also propagated in this way.
There are a few evergreen shrubs that are taken as hardwood cuttings but they are then treated as semi-ripe cuttings when it comes to preparation and propagation.
When to take hardwood cuttings
Hardwood cuttings are taken during the quietest time in the garden during the dormant season from mid-autumn to late winter. With deciduous shrubs the cuttings are taken just after all the leaves have fallen off the shrub. Avoid taking cuttings during periods of severe frost if possible.
How to take a hardwood cutting
Take a cutting from a ripe and vigorous stem of mature wood and trim to approximately 20cm - 30cm (8 - 12in). Cut the top of the stem just above the leaves or the buds and remove the soft tip growth.
Ensure that the cut at the top is angled or slanted so that when it comes to planting the cuttings, you will be able to tell which way up the cutting should be inserted. Cut the base of the cutting straight across, just below a leaf or bud joint.
With deciduous shrubs, remove any leaves that might remain, although the cutting is generally taken when all the leaves have fallen. With evergreen shrubs, remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting only, and cut any large remaining leaves in half widthways.
Ensure that the cut at the top is angled or slanted so that when it comes to planting the cuttings, you will be able to tell which way up the cutting should be inserted. Cut the base of the cutting straight across, just below a leaf or bud joint.
With deciduous shrubs, remove any leaves that might remain, although the cutting is generally taken when all the leaves have fallen. With evergreen shrubs, remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting only, and cut any large remaining leaves in half widthways.
Wounding the cutting
Hardwood cuttings are very slow to root but will produce strong and resilient plants in approximately one year.
To aid rooting, it is often best with some shrubs and trees, to take a heel cutting and wound the base.
This works especially well with trees and shrubs with hollow stems (Forsythia) or pithy stems (elder, elderberry) (see semi-ripe cuttings for more information on heel cuttings).
Cut a slither of the bark away from the lower section of the cutting to expose the wood underneath. Then dip the base of the cutting into a hormone rooting powder or solution that preferably contains fungicide to prevent rot, before subsequently planting the cutting.
To aid rooting, it is often best with some shrubs and trees, to take a heel cutting and wound the base.
This works especially well with trees and shrubs with hollow stems (Forsythia) or pithy stems (elder, elderberry) (see semi-ripe cuttings for more information on heel cuttings).
Cut a slither of the bark away from the lower section of the cutting to expose the wood underneath. Then dip the base of the cutting into a hormone rooting powder or solution that preferably contains fungicide to prevent rot, before subsequently planting the cutting.
Planting the hardwood cuttings outside
Hardwood cuttings can be propagated by planting them straight into the soil. Prepare a trench in a sheltered spot that is approximately 15cm (6in) deep and fill it with equal amounts of sharp sand and peat or sharp sand and organic compost. If preparing more than one trench, these should be spaced at least 1 foot (12in) apart.
Space the cuttings 15cm (6in) apart and insert the cuttings, slanted top up, so that two-thirds of the cutting is under ground and only the top bud or buds are visible above ground. Refill the trench with soil and firm around the cutting with your foot. Water the cuttings if the soil is dry.
The cuttings should form roots during spring but they can now be left until the following autumn. Do check on the cuttings after frost and ensure that they are watered during periods of heat and high temperatures.
Space the cuttings 15cm (6in) apart and insert the cuttings, slanted top up, so that two-thirds of the cutting is under ground and only the top bud or buds are visible above ground. Refill the trench with soil and firm around the cutting with your foot. Water the cuttings if the soil is dry.
The cuttings should form roots during spring but they can now be left until the following autumn. Do check on the cuttings after frost and ensure that they are watered during periods of heat and high temperatures.
Propagating hardwood cuttings in containers
If you are new to cuttings and only want to experiment with a few specimens, there is no need to dig a trench outside. The same procedure can be carried out using containers and a cold frame. Simply fill deep containers with equal amounts of sharp sand and peat or half and half of compost and sharp sand or grit. Insert the cuttings in the same manner and place in a cold frame until the following autumn unless you want to re-pot them in individual containers once rooting has taken place.
Another option, which is popular for slow to root shrubs or trees, is to form a bundle of 10 or so cuttings and completely cover them with sharp sand in a large pot or container. They are placed into a cold frame and left until the spring, when they can be removed from the sand and planted into trenches directly outside as described above.
After one year you should have fully established and healthy young plants propagated from hardwood cuttings taken from your favourite shrubs.
Another option, which is popular for slow to root shrubs or trees, is to form a bundle of 10 or so cuttings and completely cover them with sharp sand in a large pot or container. They are placed into a cold frame and left until the spring, when they can be removed from the sand and planted into trenches directly outside as described above.
After one year you should have fully established and healthy young plants propagated from hardwood cuttings taken from your favourite shrubs.
