Hardwood cuttings

It's the zero-fuss way to make free new shrubs - just follow our guide from Nick Bailey

- Nick Bailey

With the nights long and the days short right now it might feel like the propagation season has long since passed - but that's not the case for hardwood cuttings. Species such as cornus, buddleia and sambucus can be taken as cuttings from late autumn until late winter. They're super-easy and arguably have the highest success rate of any type of propagation.

My advice here focuses on standard hardwood cuttings, which are usually 30-40cm, long. But a few plants such as willow and poplar can be taken using the same method. Cuttings from these two trees can be up to two metres long and will root over winter to grow away in spring.

Step by step guide

Starting new shrubs from long, woody stems is easy and requires no specialised propagation kit: all you'll need is a sharp pair of secateurs and - if you are using containers - compost and pots

1 Choose stems from a healthy tree or shrub, ideally from vertical rather than horizontal growth in the upper part of the plant, as in this example of a cornus stem. Pick stems around the thickness of a pencil and aim for a length of between 30cm and 1m. If you are not planning to use the cutting material immediately, simply bury the bottom third in some soil until you're ready.

2 Get your cuttings ready by pruning them to 30-40cm in length. Make a horizontal cut 5mm below a leaf bud. Then make a second cut, this time at an angle, 30-40cm above the horizontal cut, as shown on these buddleia stems. This angled cut at the top will ensure you don’t accidentally plant the cuttings upside-down; also, it helps water drain off once they are planted.