So many cuttings to take!

This is the prime time for plant propagation

- Ruth Hayes

THERE is so much healthy new growth in the garden, making it the perfect time to propagate your favourite perennials by taking cuttings.

My dahlia tubers sprouted late this year so this week I have been taking my last batch of softwood cuttings from the new growth.

It is important not to take too many, as that can weaken the parent plant, but three or four healthy stems will, if they take, give you three or four young plants for next year.

Morning is the best time to take cuttings, when the plants are full of moisture from the night before. Use a sharp, clean knife to remove them and pot cuttings up in dampened seed compost that has been mixed with grit or vermiculite to improve drainage.

Most cuttings need to be kept in a humid environment and the easiest way to do this is enclose their pot in a plastic bag tied with string. Growing leaves can rot if they touch the damp plastic, so I put thin sticks around the edge of the pot to hold the bag away from the cuttings.