If you want an immediate, green enclosure around your entire property, it probably makes more sense to buy all the plants and use them directly. However, if this is not necessary, you can easily multiply the hedge yourself and save a lot of money. We'll tell you how to do this.
Most hedge plants can be easily propagated from cuttings
The propagation of cuttings
For cuttings you need certain parts of the plant. These should:
- Relatively young
- and not lignified.
Waste from prunings, which is produced anyway during the annual pruning, can be used well.
If you want to take cuttings from the mother plant, you should do this in winter or early spring. Choose a spot that is not directly in the field of view and use a sharp, clean knife to detach. It is cut off at the point where the old wood merges with the fresh.
grow cuttings
Old flower pots are suitable as growing containers because they are deep enough. Mix normal potting soil with some compost so that there are enough nutrients in the substrate…
Alternatively, you can place the cuttings directly in a bed or in the future location in the ground. The distance should be twenty centimeters here.
- Shorten the cuttings to a length of 15 - 20 centimetres.
- Remove the leaves from the lower part of the shoot.
- Stick into the substrate so that only the upper leaves stick out.
- Water well.
- So that the offspring forms roots quickly, water every two days.
After about three months pinch the tip. This will force the cutting to produce side shoots. As soon as these have grown vigorously, the tip is cut off. Continue to prune the plants regularly to keep them growing bushy.
Propagating shrubs by lowering
Alternatively, some hedge plants can be propagated by sinkers. This method is very simple and requires little effort.
- Bend single, young and non-lignified shoots downwards in an arc.
- The end of the shoot protrudes upwards in a U-shape.
- Remove leaves in the area that rests on the ground.
- Fix with tent hooks.
- Cover the fixing point with substrate and press firmly.
After two to three months, new roots form below the fixing point. Now separate the offspring from the mother plant and place the small plant in its final location.
tips
Rooting in water also works very well for some hedge plants. To do this, simply put the cuttings in a container filled with water and place it in a bright place. As soon as roots have formed five centimeters long, you can plant the offshoots.