How to Propagate with Hardwood Plant Cuttings

Propagating plants is an exciting way to garden in the cold months while waiting for the green and blooms to arrive. Hardwood cuttings need a lot less attention than softwood or semi-ripe cuttings, but they also root more slowly. They don’t need heat; therefore, it’s easiest to simply plant them directly into the ground or in a cold frame.

Some trees lend themselves to hardwood propagation as well. What needs to be kept in mind for tree cuttings is whether it’s to be a single stemmed tree, or a multi-stemmed one. If a single-stemmed tree is desired, the cuttings need to be set deeper into the trench so the top bud is just under the soil’s surface.

What You’ll Need to Propagate Hardwood Cuttings

• Pruning shears
• A plastic cup or container
• Stems that are about pencil thick (newer stems)
• A prepared ground or cold frame
• *Rooting powder or liquid – This is optional, however, rooting hormones do increase the success rate of cuttings.

How to Propagate From Hardwood Cuttings

1. The stems chosen for cuttings should be about as thick as a pencil and should be on the younger side in age. Take a long shoot, so several cuttings can be made.
2. The cuttings should be around 6 ‚” long, but that can vary with the type of shrub chosen. Then just cut the stem just below a node.
3. Make a second cut approximately 6″ above the first, and above a node. But this time, make the cut at an angle so there’s a clear difference which is the bottom and which is the top of the cutting. The end with the angles cut is the top of the cutting/plant.
4. This next step is using the rooting hormone. This is a step that can be skipped, but the cuttings will have a much higher success rate if a rooting hormone is applied. For plants that are harder to root, it can be a must.
5. If you are using a powdered hormone, dip the ends of the cuttings into water to moisten them. If you are using a gel or liquid rooting hormone, don’t dip the ends in water. Put the hormone only at the base of the cutting.
6. In the prepared ground, or cold frame, make a little trench with a spade shovel. The trench should be a little shallower than the length of the cuttings. The cuttings should be placed where they can be left undisturbed for a year.
7. Grit or sand can be sprinkled generously into the slit if it’s in a poorly drained area. The sand will prevent the water from soaking the cuttings.
8. Place the cuttings 3-4 ‚” apart from each other into the trench in an upright position, letting them lean against the side of the trench. Leave about 1-2′ of the cuttings above ground.
9. Tap the soil firmly around the cuttings eliminating air pockets.
10. Label the cuttings and water.

Shrubs That Root Easily From Hardwood Cuttings

Below is a list of shrubs that root easily, however, it’s by no means exhaustive. There are many other plants that will give good results when started by hardwood cuttings.

• Forsythia
• Rhododendron (Azalea)
• Dogwoods (Cornus alba, Cornus stolonifera)
• Butterfly Bush (Buddleia spp.)
• Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium)
• Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica)
• Mock Orange (Philidelphus)
• Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)

Trees That Root Easily From Hardwood Cuttings

• Poplar (Populus)
• Willows (Salix spp.)
• Plane (Platanus)

Some shrubs are stubborn rooters and will rot before they root. If the shrub is on the list of hard rooters or end up rotting the first time cuttings are taken, try treating them like soft wood cuttings, and put cuttings dipped in hormone in a container with bottom heat. Fall and winter are perfect seasons for creating new shrubby plants form hardwood cuttings. Try your hand propagating whatever plant species strikes your fancy.