Propagating broad leaf trees from cuttings

[SamWhiting12]

Looking to start propagating trees from cuttings. Have read up on the internet the basics of how to do it but have a few question.

 

What's the best growing medium to use? Is water any good?

 

Now is the time to start collecting cuttings, but once in the growing medium how long until you can plant in the woods? Is it better to plant in a pot and grow for a year or come spring time plant it straight into the woodland with a shelter?

 

Thanks in advance.

[agg221]

Looking to start propagating trees from cuttings. Have read up on the internet the basics of how to do it but have a few question.

 

What's the best growing medium to use? Is water any good?

 

Now is the time to start collecting cuttings, but once in the growing medium how long until you can plant in the woods? Is it better to plant in a pot and grow for a year or come spring time plant it straight into the woodland with a shelter?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Some things will root well if you take cuttings now as root development takes place over winter. Others will take better if you take cuttings in late winter and give them bottom heat.

 

You want something free draining to keep air and water around as the roots grow - you can get things to root in water but usually the very easy plants in full growth. I would go for perlite/sand, perlite/peat or sand/peat - again, some will take better in one of these, some in another one, so a bit of experimentation needed.

 

The main thing is to keep the roots growing while the top is dormant, so a sheltered, north facing aspect is best.

 

I would grow them on for a year before planting out. You can give them care and attention then, making sure they have enough water, the right nutrients etc. and develop a good, strong root system. If you are planning on using rabbit guards then they will also be big enough to grow out of the top better by then.

 

Out of interest, why cuttings rather than seed? For most broadleaves, seed is a lot easier unless there are some very specific characteristics you are trying to preserve.

 

Alec

[SamWhiting12]

Great, thanks for the advice Alec. I think as you say, I will just have to experiment to find out what works best.

 

I am going to try seeds and cuttings, but mainly cuttings, as I want to grow different varieties of trees but don't want to spend much money. The only mature trees that produce seeds around us are Oak,Sycamore and Ash, and I want to be growing a lots of Alder, Cherry, Beech and Rowan which are not old enough to be producing seeds yet.

 

I will update my progress, hoping to start getting cuttings next weekend.

[Arborist]

Dean had a thread up earlier about cuttings was a good read!

[woodyguy]

Seed is freely available for natives and very cheap on ebay for more exotics. Good luck with cuttings for the list you give. Dead easy from seed though.

 

I'm currently growing 140 species/varieties of trees and most are from seed. Willow/poplar/pterocarya are very easy from cuttings though.

[SamWhiting12]

I had a look on ebay and the seeds pretty cheap and I will buy a few in. Bit of a stupid question, with seeds can you tip them onto a tray of soil and then plant the ones that have germinate and leave the rest till they become undormant or is it best to put straight into pots?

 

Aborist, where is that thread do you know? Had a look earlier for relevant threads but didnt find too many.

[Arborist]

Aborist, where is that thread do you know? Had a look earlier for relevant threads but didnt find too many.

 

It was by Dean Loft house, I can't find to now but if you search his name, go to his profile page, into statistics and look for threads started by Dean and it should be there!

 

Hope that helps?

[SamWhiting12]

Cheers, found it Interesting little setup, it would be good to see how Dean is doing with it now.

[woodyguy]

For seeds, buy a pack of John Innes type seed compost, garden soil isn't great. Sow them in pots (butter/marg tubs with holes in bottom are fine).

Then water and keep outside where frost can get to them. Leave til late spring when hopefully a good few will have grown. Then empty out pot and tease apart before growing on in 11cm or bigger pots with compost mixed with soil. Pulling out the odd one isn't ideal.