Boxwood Hardwood Cuttings

Start boxwood cuttings in midsummer after the spring growth has hardened and produced mature leaves.

Boxwood hardwood cuttings.

Place boxwood slips into potting medium using a dauber of some sort i used a sharpie back end to create a slot to place your cutting into your pot of soil i used my diy potting soil by creating a hole in the soil you prevent the rooting hormone from getting removed as you slide in the stem. I place several cuttings into the pot. Some evergreen plants hollies for example can also be taken at the same time of year as other hardwood cuttings. Hardwood cuttings are generally taken from the current year growth at the end of autumn or in winter or early spring when the plant is fully dormant with no active growth.

Cut 3 to 4 inch 7 5 to 10 cm tips of new growth with a sharp knife. They can take several months to produce roots so leave them for a year before lifting and potting up or transplanting. How i propagate boxwood. I always plant 5 7 stems together just to achieve an instant shrub effect.

Pruning shears or scissors pinch the stems and make it hard for them to take up water later on. I ve discussed the basic theory of how plants can be propagated from cuttings in the article propagating softwood cuttings so i ll go straight. Only cut healthy stems with no insect damage or discoloration. The wood is firm and does not bend easily.

Strip the bottom half of the cutting of its leaves. Boxwood cuttings root best. Forsythia cornus and willow in autumn and winter. In spring or early fall if you live in a warm climate take tip cuttings 6 inches in length.

You can remove the desired cutting by gently snapping it off using your thumb and forefinger a sterile knife or a pair of gardening shears whichever way you prefer. Wait until after the flowers have faded since actively blooming cuttings are slower to root and. Taking boxwood cuttings in midsummer catches the stems at just the right stage to give you the best chance of success. The cuttings should be 4 to 6 inches in length.

Hardwood cuttings are taken in winter during dormancy when all leaves have fallen. Remove the lower inch of leaves. It should be noted that the hardwood cuttings take longer to root.