Winter is the ideal time for pruning deciduous flowering shrubs that bloom in summer, such as roses, buddleia, and lagerstroemia, as well as small fruits like currants and blackcurrants.
Make the most of this pruning season by collecting branches to create hardwood cuttings—a reliable propagation method.
The basic principle is to plant two buds (eyes) underground and leave one above ground. Note that one 'eye' can mean two if they are opposite each other; this is clearer with alternating buds.
Select a branch from last year's growth (under one year old). Cut the base at a bevel just below a bud (or pair of buds).
Then, make a straight cut above the third bud from the top. The angled base cut helps distinguish the bottom when planting.
Prepare several cuttings from the same plant, bundle them together, and label with a tag to identify the shrub. Ensure all bevel-cut bases point the same way.
Bury the bundle up to the base of the upper buds—about three-quarters deep—in a shaded spot that's easy to water next summer. Leave it in place for a full year. In the following fall, dig up, separate the rooted cuttings, and transplant to a nursery bed or their final location.
This free, proven technique multiplies your plants effortlessly.
