Easy cuttings??

boo80

I love my garden, it's my pride and joy. Last year I spent so much time getting it lovely (it was a MESS when we moved in) I grew flowers from seeds and bought plants from the garden centre/b&q and was so pleased with it.

My problem this year is that quite a few of the plants didn't make it through the winter and now I'm left with empty spaces in my flower beds. We took a trip to the garden centre today and could not believe the prices of their plants :eek: so came away empty handed

So, does anyone have any advice on what I can take cutting of from family and friends, and what do I do with the cuttings when I have them?? One side of my garden is rather shady (acer and primroses are thriving), the other side is quite sunny.

Thanks for reading, any advice will be gratefully recieved

afsha

good question looking forward to some help with this too.

wanna-save-more

You could always try asking on your local freecycle site.

Maybe someone is changing their garden and has plants they no longer need,or
have plants they are willing to split

xx

ALIBOBSY

Rosemary, bay and box are quite easy to take cuttings off. Same method cut of a small branch (around 4 inches) strip off all but the top few leaves and stick in a pot of compost. If you have rooting powder stick that on before planting in the pot.

I have 3 new rosemary and 2 new lavenders from this, this year.

Day liilies can be split, my MIL did this for me off her massive clump.

Get some cheap seeds and put loads of annual flowers everywhere?

Aldi and lidl are quite good for cheap plants and seeds (we have got loads from them) think lidl are on a gardening week this week.

good luck

ali x

kellyw8800

Great post, it was on here how I re-taught myself how to take cuttings.

I'm abit of an experimenter and if you can take a cutting where the stem looks 'woody' rather than green then take a cutting. you can do it with pretty much most established plants which your family and friends may have.

definate successes have been with most berry bushes, rosemary and carnations to name a few. Usually do it in the autumn so it gives the winter for the roots to establish and use a little potting powder.

Another idea can you ask for family and friends if they have any bushes or plants they can split. I usually split my rosemary bushes every other year and have looooads now. All from the one bush my Gran gave me!

Hope this helps, most of the info there is what I've learnt from on here MSE!

Jake'sGran

I have a habit of cut it and see and have been surprised how easily some plants have been in forming roots. I cut a piece off, or pull it off, and shove it in the ground after removing lower leaves. I have done this successfully with Photinia, Choisya, thornless Holly, spotted laurel and hardy fuschias and others I can't remember. Maybe the ones you did were not really hardy?

choille

If you ask people for self seeded stuff - most have flowers & shrubs that are just weeded out - fushias, hebe's, veronica, etc & will glady allow you to help yourself.

I have a habit of looking at cracks in pavements when in town & have many self seeded stuff that I've hoicked out & kept moist on the journey home & stuck in the ground. Also when I go to garden open days - I quietly help them weed their paths of any tiny self seeded stuff.
You can easily take budlia cuttings & broom, but it's best after they've flowered I find . Although try anything you fancy as it won't cost you anything apart from time.
Poundstore do some amazingly cheap plants as do Morrissons & I've had great success with them & their bulbs.

olly300

Not only cutting but you can ask for divisions of clumps of plants. Obviously avoid the ones that really take over the garden.

For example Crocosmia need to be divided around now. Just make sure you haven't got an invasive variety. -
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0905/crocosmia_dierama.asp

You are a bit late for asters.

However if you find plants you want and it's not the right time to divide or propagate them in time you can always sow annuals to fill your spaces. You should actually ask around for annual seed as lots of people, like me, actually collect and save seed.

matt1234

Fucshias are very easy to grow from cuttings. It takes a week for a root system to form. If you have any rooting powder (available cheaply on ebay) it will be even quicker.

serena

Try getting hold of The Propagator's Handbook by Peter Thompson - it's an excellent guide to producing your own plants.

The majority of late flowering perennials can be split up now - hardy geraniums, asters, phlox, rudbeckias etc.

The best time of year for shrubs is June.

You could try some annuals, it's not too late for hardy annuals to be sown - cosmos, rudbeckia,annual asters, dahlias.

How about some quick growing shrubs -brooms, lavatera and buddleia are usually cheaper, and grown and flower like mad.Of course, the downside is their reckless growth means they don't last for endless years!

I would ask around neighbours, try visiting Yellow Book(The National Garden Scheme) gardens which have plant stalls, local WI markets if you have any, and look out for specialist plant sales - there are loads all around the country. I belong to The Hardy Plant Society, and you can find plant sales listed on their website.

boo80

Aw thats loads of brilliant advice! Thanks everyone! One of my plants that didn't make it through the winter was a fuchsia and I'd love to replace that. Also, my clematis died, it was so pretty, can they be grown from cuttings? I'm pretty good with seeds and have got a few seedlings which are nearly ready to go in the ground so hopefully by garden won't look so bare once they're in!