How to Root Hardwood Cuttings: A Step-by-Step Guide

Propagating plants from hardwood cuttings is a rewarding and cost-effective way to expand your garden. This method works best with deciduous trees and shrubs during their dormant season. Follow these steps to successfully root hardwood cuttings and grow new plants for your landscape.

1. Select and Prepare Cuttings

Choose a healthy, vigorous parent plant. Look for stems from the previous season's growth—these are typically lighter in color than older wood. Using a sharp knife or pruners, cut pencil-thick stems 1 to 2 feet long.

Trim off and discard the top inch or two of each stem (this unripened wood lacks sufficient nutrients). Cut the remaining stems into 6- to 9-inch lengths, each containing two or three nodes. Make cuts about ½ inch above or below a node. To distinguish the top from the bottom, cut the top end at a slant and the bottom end straight across. Dip the bottom ends in rooting hormone powder and tap off excess.

2. Store Cuttings Over Winter

In cold climates (where ground freezes): Bundle cuttings together with rubber bands and place them in a box filled with slightly moist vermiculite, sawdust, or sand, covering them completely. Store the box in an unheated but non-freezing garage or shed.

In milder climates: Bury the bundles in an outdoor trench filled with regular garden soil. Over winter, the lower ends will form calluses from which roots will eventually emerge.

3. Plant in Early Spring

As soon as the ground can be worked, plant cuttings in a sheltered nursery bed protected from strong winds. Dig a narrow trench and set cuttings upright, top end up, spaced about 6 inches apart. Backfill with soil mixed with compost or perlite, leaving only the top bud exposed. Firm the soil gently around each cutting.

4. Care During Growing Season

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Protect young cuttings from direct sun using shade cloth or a lattice supported on stakes. By fall or the following spring, the new plants should be well-rooted and ready for transplanting into their permanent garden locations.