How to root cuttings?

[Scarlet]

I never have much luck with taking cuttings. Ive got a big garden with a few shrubs that I would like to take cuttings from to fill some gaps.
Last year I tried to take a few without much success....I have a yellow and a black sambucus/elder, both are gorgeous looking shrubs and I would like to have a few more of these.

Any tips? How to you take your cuttings?

[Guest]

If you struggle with them could you not try layering. It is the one way I have found that works best.

[Scarlet]

Ive tried layering with others and that works really well. But these are old shrubs, ( one 20 years old) they get hard pruned every couple of years. The lower stems are really quite thick. New growth grows out of these, there's no really low soft growth .

[Guest]

I haven't tried it myself but you could do air layering. I am sure I have read another grape doing it well but can't remember how it got said - think it was something fruity a year or so ago. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=405

Edit: It is Starloc who air layers http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1285758

[muddled]

If I can't do layering I just stick a few bits in a jar of water on my kitchen window sill.
As long as I change the water frequently, they very often start rooting eventually.

[veggiechicken]

If I really want to grow a new plant, I put cuttings in a jar/bucket of water and in a pot of compost. Doubles my chance of success and usually one will work.
I keep a Cuttings bucket in the garden, and shove all the pruned off/broken bits into it. There's always summat with roots in there.

With elder, I'd take off some of the young shoots, with a heel if possible, and shove them in the ground..............and forget them. Next year, you may be surprised! Can't kill Common elder here - it grows on fallen branches left lying around - I should clear up after me!

[Scarlet]

I tried some cutting in water some in a pot last year I had zero luck. Common elder I a pain here. I'd love a few more I e gold sambucus, they are lovely. I'll try several way

[boatsman]

I've grown a lot of willow by just leaving cuttings in a bucket of water, but then willow is so easy. Usually I dip cuttings in indole butyric powder before placing them in the potting mix.

[Ryez]

I grew hydrangeas from cuttings. I had to use a lot and even though half of them rooted, only 3 survived the winter. Maybe take a lot of cuttings, put them in water, I did it in the room upstairs that tends to be very warm, and left them to it. When a lot of roots have formed I planted them with some "root grow" in case it helps... My hydrangea will have its first flower this year!

[sparrow100]

A cuttings bucket in the garden, what a brilliant idea! I traipse them home when they could be quite happy at the plot...

[Scarlet]

I've grown a lot of willow by just leaving cuttings in a bucket of water, but then willow is so easy.

A few cuttings of my willow landed in my pond last year...I haven't got around to taking the several young trees out of the pond yet!

[Jay-ell]

You could google willow water for a grow your own rooting hormone

[veggiechicken]

That's ^^^ probably why they're growing so well

[Containergardener]

I like take cuttings ,how I got started into seed sowing and then veggies .
I used to take quite a lot of cuttings having a new young garden (softer growth) and nip off tops and lower leaves placing around edge of a pot . I leave them and hope to see roots coming out the bottom some point. Once that happens, I find the rooter and re pot. They say not to pot on into too larger pots, slower.
I have 5 weigelia , 2 kerria, lavenders, forsythias, 2 philadelphus, spirea snowmound ..all hanging around to be planted out (all from parents garden originally) .
This threads reminded me to take it up again, thanks ... I need a nursery area now .

[elleme]

With sambucus try rooting it in water. I had a go with a cutting from my black lace elder earlier in the year and it started rooting quite quickly. Then I had a change of plan after buying yet another plant so I threw it out, but it looked easy.

If it's a fancy variety like that it won't come true from the seeds - I've had a few pop up around the original plant and they've got the bog-standard green leaves.