Propagation – Matthew English

Several methods
• Layering – take tips and put them in pots and it will root (herbs – rosemary, basil – and berries)
• Remove all but top leaves and plant in propagation medium
• Rosemary will “tip root” – lay a rosemary stem on the ground with a brick on it and it will root – also berries
• Cuttings – make sure timing is right
• Soft woods
• Semi-hardwoods – July – September
• Hardwoods – fall
• Grafting –
• Find dormant scion of targeted plant – pencil size, and 12” long
• Find root stock same size trunk
• Tools
• Alcohol pads – wipe down tools between plants
• Straight edged sharp knife for cuts
• Cut root stock at angle, and cut scion at same angle
• Try to line up the cambian layer inside, not the bark
• Cut tongue on both
• Put both pieces together, interlocking the tongue
• Use rubber bands or grafting tape to hold the graft together and protect it
• Parafilm? or Buddy tape?
• Division –
• Daylillies – pull them apart in the fall and separate the roots

Mini Propagation Container
• Cut gallon jug in half horizontally
• Put compost medium in the bottom
• Insert cuttings with their tops showing
• Moisten the compost medium
• Cover with the top half of the jug to create a “mini terrarium”
• Check daily for moisture level
• In a week, you should have roots
• Cut back half of the leaves so it don’t divert as much energy to the leaves

You can use a liquid rooting solution – dip the cutting in it or let it sit in it

Willow propagates very easily – make your own rooting solution
• Rooting hormone is in the bark
• Chop up the bark and let it sit in water 24hrs
• Use water to help roots propagate

Root stocks
• Apple root stock – crabapple and others – based on soil type
• Better to graft apples than to plant seeds – to be assured of good fruit
• Pear – hawthorn rootstock
• Hardy roots are usually better than fruit tree roots, which sometimes have weak root systems
• If you have a good fruit tree- you’ll have to graft it to get another tree with the same good fruit. If you let it naturally pollinate with surrounding trees, you won’t know what you’ll get.
• Plums are easier to take from seed, so you don’t need to graft them – but you can

Bamboo propagation?
• Take cuttings from rhizomes, rather than plant itself
• Longer pieces (more nodes) will grow faster and do better