Hardwood cuttings are cuttings that are done during the winter months when the wood that you use to make the cuttings is hard and not pliable. See this for a Detailed Explanation of How to Do Hardwood Cuttings.
Couple of days ago I was looking at this post about Proper Nursery Plant Tagging and on that page I have a photo of pathetic-looking sticks in a bed of sand and I thought to myself; “Wow! those cuttings really were sorry looking, I should show people what that bed looks like now, less than one year later. So here ya go!
This is the photo that I took last winter, we stuck these cuttings in Nov-Dec 2015.
For a detailed list of what Plants are in this Bed, see this Page.
I am writing this in September 2016 and I will share with you how successful this attempt at hardwood cuttings was. Keep in mind, this is exactly how these cuttings went through the winter. Completely uncovered, exposed to the elements. Stuck in nothing but coarse sand, and much to my dismay they were not snow-covered all winter as I would have liked. Snow cover is good. It keeps them moist and protected from the elements. Last winter we didn’t have much snow, so my little cuttings were on their own.
This is what the bed looks like today.
Looking at the bed from the opposite end you can see Pink Whisper Potentilla. They did okay, but not great. But the cuttings that we used were really poor quality, they looked dead. I usually do Potentilla as Softwood Cuttings because they Root Easily that Way.
Next to those are some Blue Arctic Willow. They are at least a foot tall.
At the far end you can see some Golden Curls Willow, they are huge! About 3′ tall. You can also see some Purple Sandcherry and some Rose of Sharon.
Here’s a closer shot of the Purple Sandcherry and Rose of Sharon. The Rose of Sharon are in bloom!
See those two bare spots in the bed? The bare spot to the right is a section of Snow Mound Spirea, hundreds of them, that failed to root. This is how we learn things. I thought that they would do well as hardwoods but they did horrible. From now on we’ll only do them as softwood cuttings.
The bare spot to the left? That area was filled with Annabelle Hydrangea Cuttings. They root so easily as hardwood cuttings that they are ready to pot by mid-summer so we pulled them and potted them in June of this year.
Want to see something amazing?
These are the Annabelles that we rooted last winter and potted this summer! There are two groups of them in this photo. See the white flowers on the right and on the left?
In less than one year, from a hardwood cutting to a saleable plant! Right now we have customers buying these at $5.97 each. They are so tall they are falling over but I won’t trim them until Nov when we can make hardwood cuttings again.
And that’s the beauty of growing plants from scratch!
Questions or comments? Post them below.
Hey Mike,
Forgot to also ask. Can you propagate either Lilac or Red Maple from hardwood cuttings or are they better as softwood or grown from seed? Thanks again.
Josh,
Neither will do well from hardwood cuttings, the maples can be grown from seed, Lilacs from softwood cuttings. https://secure.backyardgrowers.com/business-center
Hello Mike,
If I cannot wait to winter will propagating hardwood cuttings work in late October or early November? What are the pros and cons of doing this now? I’m in zone 6 in WNW Ohio by the way. I also don’t have access to any mist system yet.
Josh,
The cons are the cuttings are slow to root over the winter and can dry out while waiting for them to root. I now do mine in late winter and get much better results.
Hi Mike. Is it possible to take hardwood cuttings from a redbud tree? If so, what’s the procedure?
Cl,
No, they won’t root. Getting them to root as softwood cuttings is very difficult. Most are grown from seed or grafted onto a redbud seedling.
Hi Mike,
I’ve been collecting a bunch of various native tree cuttings in this past month to help do a native plant restoration project in eastern PA. Most of the cuttings are pencil thick from flexible branches (this past years growth I think for most of them), though i didn’t cut the tops from any of them as I see in most of your posts. Do you recommend topping them to be shorter (some are rather long, more than a foot, and the density of leaf buds varies from plant to plant)? They are all outside, mostly shaded, moist, and in soil (dipped the stems in rooting hormone before planting).
I also experimented taking a cutting from my friend’s live christmas tree (a beautiful yellow cedar from Nevada), and i travelled with it cross country in a wet paper towel with rooting hormone. It stayed flexible And bright green for months, then I forgot about it for a couple of months, and now the leaves are rather brittle, but it seems like some root tissue may have formed on the bottom. I stuck it in soil now with low expectations. Is it a goner? Do coniferous cuttings need the leaves to hang on to make roots?
This is my first year experimenting with hardwood cuttings, and I’d definitely like to increase the chances they survive!
Thanks!
Jean
Jean,
Ideally cuttings work well when they are 4″ to 6″ in length. Keep in mind, hardwood cuttings make leaves before roots so you don’t want to many leaves with no roots to support them. The confier? Probably a gonner but just give it time.
Mike I’m in zone 7b/8a we get very little snow if any and when we do it’s gone the next day. Do you suggest watering hardwood cuttings when you have little or no moisture for over a month at a time? Also do you know if red tip photenia and smoke bush do better as hardwood or softwood cuttings?
Thanks !
Helene,
Yes water them on a regular basis. I am now doing all of my hardwood cuttings around march 31st here in northern Ohio. Those two plants need to be done as softwood cuttings.
How do you know what to do as softwood or hardwood? Do you have a list or cheat sheet somewhere I can find?
Helene,
Here’s a short list. http://www.freeplants.com/howtodowhat.htm
This summer was my first successful year with rooting rose cuttings. I have a bunch planted and will protect them for the winter. I live in zone 6, Boston area. I read your article on rooting rose cuttings and was successful. I tried other methods, like putting inside a Dunkin’ Donuts coolata plastic cup
with the dome tops and other ones but I never had success. One plant I can not successfully root is my hydrangea. I tried multiple attempts and the only method that I have success with is burying a low laying branch under the ground and leaving 2 full grown top leaves and the top two small new leaves forming. I stick a rock on it and behind it to make it grow more straight. I wait to it looks rooted and dig it up, cut it from the mother plant, and pot it in potting soil. Then I transplant to my garden in late summer to allow time for it to get established and survive the winter. Everyone I have done this way, I had success. Everyone made the winter and are still doing good. However, mine do not grow at the rate of your Annabelles. I’m propagating a blue mop head hydrangea. Also, I don’t do it on your level. I’m only rooting 5-10 roses, hydrangeas, etc. I garden as a hobby. I’m going to give this method a shot and see what happens. Thanks for sharing all your wisdom and knowledge.
Michelle,
Your mop head hydrangea should root from hardwood cuttings. However, stick a lot more than you need just to increase your odds of success. Also, I’m now doing my hardwood cuttings in very early spring with great success. Do some both ways.
Will this work with evergreens? like Ilex Pieris or Rhodes?
Juan,
Only if you can provide the cuttings with bottom heat. Heat cables, heating mat or hot water lines.
Thanks! I’m enjoying your videos. Are your sand beds in partial shade?
Juan,
Partial sand beds work well in partial shade.
Mike! Do you know anyone selling green mon junipers? I would like a couple to make a couple Bonsai.
Steve,
We probably have a few members, http://backyardgrowers.com/join, that have them but I don’t know right off hand without asking them.
mike I need an email address where I can contact you
thanks
marshall reagan
Marshall,
Our contact email is; [email protected]
Mike? will ginkyo trees root very well ? I have one in my yard & would like to
have several more.. also will a weeping cherry root easily ? this one I want to
root is growing in a trash pile next door & I want to root some .. I am very limited
to what shrubbery I have around my house besides azealas & rhodendrons
because of when my house burned I haven,t relanscaped yet.
Marshall,
The Ginkos I think can be rooted cut I’m not sure. Weeping cherries? Depends on the variety. White Fountain I have successfully rooted from cuttings.
Why, Mike has no mentioning of and never tried Japanese Maple species?
Giuseppe,
Japanese maples are difficult to do from cuttings and don’t do well when done that way. See this; http://japanesemaplelovers.com/growing-japanese-maples-from-seed/
I live in Texas so my seasons are a bit different. I’m trying to propagate Mexican sycamore. I was marginally successful in the past but I get one of two success story among dozens of deaths. This spring/summer I tried to root all kinds of twigs: softwood, hardwood and everything in between using the white plastic bag method. The average lifespan of these cuttings was 2-3 weeks. They typically sprout 1-2 new penny-size leaves but no roots and then die. Not a single one lived. I think the best success I had was when I took cuttings in the early spring while the trees were still dormant, and left them uncovered, but even then it was about a 20 to 1 ratio of survival. Any words of wisdom? What am I doing wrong?
Ed,
The plastic bag method does work but the medium has to drain well and the bag must be shaded especially in your zone. You can do the same in a plastic tote. Many of our members, http://backyardgrowers.com/join have done many variations of this. And of course this is like magic; http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/mikes-plant-propagation-kit/
Mike, do you personally propagate any “difficult to root” hardwood cuttings? I would love to see an article on your experience with those.
Kenneth,
I don’t have or want a bottom heat set up so the answer is no. We often discuss this in great detail in the members area. http://backyardgrowers.com/join I do have some articles on bottom heat at http://freeplants.com
Your link to the list of all plants in your hardwood cutting bed “For a detailed list of what Plants are in this Bed, see this Page” opens to a page with Fergus and “Proper Nursery Plant Tagging”.
A bit frustrating, because I wanted to see the particular plants….
Marina,
The list is on that page. A bit confusing but it’s there, plain as day.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO ROOT FORSYTHIA ? HOW DO YOU DIVIDE A MEXICAN SAGE AND WHEN?
Claudia,
Forsythia can be rooted at just about any time of the year. The Mexican sage I’m not sure about, I’d say divide in early spring.
Hi Mike,
I have an Annabelle Hydrangea that I purchased and planted October 2016. It has flowered beautifully this year. I am so in love with it and would love to share it with family and friends.
Is it too soon to propagate it? When is the right time to cut it? I’m in zone 6.
Will Annabelle root if I put a cutting in water?
Any suggestions you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Mir Tan,
I’d wait until winter. They root amazingly well as hardwood cuttings. http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-winter-time-plant-propagation-can-home/ but they will root as softwoods as well. http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/
I would like to get a start of an old lilac brush. I live in Ohio. I need to do this now. Will it take root at this time? Can i do this outside in sand? Thanks.
Melinda,
Trying to do Lilacs as hardwood cuttings is not likely to work. You can try, some bottom heat might help, http://freeplants.com/bottomheat.htm, but I never anybody successfully do them as hardwoods as we typically do hardwood cuttings.But they can be done as softwood cuttings in June.
http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/
Hi Mike, Keith and Mary again,lol. We scored today on Leyland cypress. They are about 4 to 5 ft tall in great shape for $5.00 each. We were so excited. These will be our Mother plants for propagation. Question for you, about how long do they take to get roots? Our weather during the day is warming back up, our propagation box is in an area with sun to keep it warm with shade cloth to protect from sun. It normally doesnt get cold till end of Janurary, should I attempt to propagate them in our propagation box outside ? Then once they root should I just leave them in there till early spring? Or should I pot them up and put them in sun? I am so grateful to have you to ask my questions, Any advice as always will be appreciated. Well off to go bake cookies. Have a Happy Halloween
Keith and Mary,
They are an evergreen so they are slower to root and winter makes them slower yet. I’d stick them now, keep them watered until it gets cold. Probably won’t be ready to pot until late next summer. But if you do more in July they’ll root quickly and be ready for potting in the fall.
Mike,
I stuck hardwood cuttings last winter and now (October) they look great! Can I just leave them densely planted in sand bed over the winter or should I put them in pots? I guess my question is do I need to be concerned about roots growing together if I leave densely planted for another year?
Thanks for all your amazing videos.sir!!
Rick,
They’ll be fine until spring, but do get them out early in the spring before they leaf out. They should come right apart for you at that time.
I started two softwood cuttings from two different Japanese maples, made little greenhouses out of zip lock bags and kept them in the house so I could make sure they didn’t dry out. 3 months later they seem to be doing fine. What do I need to do with them over winter? Don’t the need to go dormant? They only have two leafs each.
Judy,
I say they need to go dormant. Put them outside in a protected area now to let them harden off before they go dormant.
Hi mike, I was wondering if it’s to late to cut back an older bush ( over 20 years) stringy at the top and no leaves at the bottom, also I live on the shores of a lake and have access to sea-weed, can I use this as a mulch around my shrubs, bushes and small trees……thanks
Mark,
The ideal time to trim that shrub is when the plant is dormant during the winter. Seaweed? As long it’s not salt water it should be fine.
Mike,
Did some rose of Sharon’s in March and I believe every one I stuck rooted.
I used sand and some worm dirt that I sifted work great.
Greg
We did some cuttings in late July. Some of them have rooted. Should we plant those or would it be to much stress for the plant. Those that haven’t we are keeping in the sand for the winter. Do we need to water them? I’ve read some articles of yours and you have said to water as needed during the winter. Could you explain that a bit more? Like when is it a needed time to water in the winter?
We have a big concord grape which we are planning on taking cuttings from this winter. When during winter do we need to do this? Before the ground and the sand freeze? Come spring do we need to start watering the “sticks”?
Sorry a lot of questions!
Juliana,
Sand dries out easily so if it’s warm out during the winter, it would be a good idea to water your hardwood cuttings. It would be nice to get those grape cuttings done after the plant is dormant, but before the ground freezes. You’ll have plenty of time. Yes, water them in the spring.
You have been very informative about all the named plants. But I have a beautiful Rose of Sharon. It is a seedlings that just popped up in my yard. It is very vigorous, the flower is larger and a deeper color than any I have that are named. How would I be able to propergate and sell this seedling with no name?
Peggy,
You can propagate it and sell it as long as you know where it came from. Just sell it as an un-named variety. On the wholesale market there would not be much if any interested in an un-named plant, but retail buyers would be fine with it.
Mike, I wonder if Peggy Labonte (Sept 19, 2016) would like to know how to give it a name – as it is a seedling she discovered in her garden. Particularly if she thinks it has marketable qualities such as a deeper color and larger flower?
I don’t know Laura, hopefully she will see this.
Can weeping cherry trees be propagated the way you did the plants in the pictures? Is this the time of year to propagate them? Thanks.
bazzie
Bazzie,
No, they don’t do well as hardwood cuttings but can be rooted as softwood cuttings. http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/
Mike,
Can I use the sand method to start a ginkgo tree? Thanks!
Barb,
I can’t say for sure, but it’s sure worth a try. See this as well. http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-summertime-plant-propagation-techniques-can-home/
Hi Mike, I planted some cuttings (forsythia, boxwood) in soil pots sept 10 and they should be rooted by nov, should I leave them in the pots for the winter or put them in the ground before it freezes, also can I bring some indoors to grow over winter and plant in the spring, I live about an hour north of Toronto, Thank’s……….love your videos!
Mark,
They should be fine outside all winter in the pots. Bringing them inside is not a good idea, they need to go dormant and rest for the winter.
I do this work at “Syzygium cumini” and rooted after 2 weeks
Thanks for the info.
Regarding the hard wood cuttings, does this mean any woody branch from lets say an apple tree to grape vines?
Mary,
Not everything responds well to hardwood cuttings. Grapes yes, apples probably not.
Have you done blackberry propagation?
Don,
I have not but I’m pretty sure they are done via hardwood cuttings.
I planted about 25 cuttings from a deciduous azalea in sand at the end of July. Most have developed a couple of new leaves and appear to be doing fine. They are in a plastic tub containing sand and covered with a white plastic bag. My question…how long do I leave them there before a pot them up in soil? Will they be Ok over the winter? Should I remove the white plastic? I live in Connecticut. Thank you in advance.
Jack,
I’d probably leave them as is for the winter, but remove the plastic. Pot them in early to mid spring before it gets hot.
You once had a article about the plant mister that you used and I think you were selling them. Any available Now?
Norman,
Yes, you can find that here; http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/mikes-plant-propagation-kit/
And I’ve been trying to get my Hydrangea to blossom for at least four years!!! I did find out it blossoms on old wood…just can not get it to…….Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
Karen,
Some hydrangeas are just more finicky that others when it comes to blooming. Best thing you can do is just leave it alone, it knows what to do. And I’d add another to the yard, one that is a more predictable bloomer like Annabelle or All Summer Beauty.
Say, Mike, I have a great Garden Dictionary and I learned about “girdling”. I had a Lilac that simply refused to bloom. It was in my backyard for like 10 years. So I went out approx. 3 ft, like by drip line, and pierced the soil deep with a flat head spade. Voila! It actually began blooming that summer yet, it didn’t even winter over for the next year’s spring bloom!! How amazing was that? I thought about the lady with her Hydrangeas.
Nola,
You are right and I should have mentioned that. Root pruning does stimulate plants and does get them back on track. Best done when the plant is dormant.
I built a sand bed 26feet long by 26 inches wide on a city lot. A trellis built as a “friendly” fence around half the front yard perimeter, was planted to thornless blackberries six years ago. Cuttings from this trellis will be transplanted to this bed shortly when this year’s fruiting canes are cut out and discarded and next year’s fruiting canes are trimmed into cuttings to prevent them rooting and spreading into neighbor’s yards.
Do you buy such rooted plants and/or cuttings?
Next spring will be the first attempt at your $5.97 plant sale from here. Little more than 100-feet of blackberry trellis produced 34-gallons of blackberries this year from a European-style garden fence around the perimeter of the front yard – effectively a semi-privacy “hedge.”
Cliff,
It’s something that I would consider but only if there were advertised in our members area. http://backyardgrowers.com/join But they’d probably all sell before I got to them. The main reason is because I like to support our members.
Do you use sand only now for your cuttings ? and what is the latest for cutting cherry laurel and Gardenia ? here in N.C. Thanks ,Shep
Shep,
Sand is pretty much all I use. Occasionally I’ll put hardwood cuttings in potting soil and that works just fine. I honestly don’t know the best way to do either of those, so I’d try both methods. Questions like this are usually better answered in the members area because we have a lot of members in the south who know about plants that I don’t.
Why do you not do a segment on plant tags? I have did a lot of searching on the net to find a way to tag my plants so the writing on the plain tags don’t wear or wash off. Also tried to find pre-printed tags that aren’t really expensive. And also tried to find printing programs so i can make my own printed labels with plant information on them.
Ill admit I’m not really good on finding information on a computer, but I do try.
can you help me among (i’m sure) many more other starting out people that need this information.
will be looking for a segment on this information.
I have to say, you have helped me so very much on rooting plants.
Thanks Again Mike and all your people that help you!
Clifton,
here it is; http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2016/01/proper-nursery-plant-tagging/
Thanks for the info! Mary
Fantastic post, Mike! I’ve been following you and have learned so much. Thank you!
Can I do hardwood cuttings from Oakleaf Hydrangea ? Where and when do I cut?
Shirley,
You certainly can try, cut them just like you would a softwood cuttings, making the bottom cut right below a node. See this; http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-winter-time-plant-propagation-can-home/
Love your little tidbits of gardening wisdom!!!
Love your little tidbits of gardening wisdom!!!!
Looks good Mike. I tried purple sandcherry last year ( about a hundred of them……….nothing……..even used rooting hormone)
Terry,
Do them in the dead of winter or at the very end of winter. They should do well for you. See this; http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2015/01/easy-winter-time-plant-propagation-can-home/
Dip n grow
Should a sand bed be in the shade? Do you cover the bed to make a small greenhouse?
Jason,
Shade does help a lot, this particular bed is in full sun and I do not cover it. During the summer we do this; http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/mikes-plant-propagation-kit/