How to Grow Shrubs & Vines from Hardwood Cuttings

Starting new plants from hardwood cuttings is a slow but reliable way to grow free plants from many deciduous shrubs and vines.

For more tips, see When to Take Plant Cuttings | Free Printable Garden Calendar. You can get step-by-step instructions for spring softwood cuttings here.

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Getting Started With Hardwood Cuttings

With each plant species, there are usually several ways to grow new plants from existing ones, and each method depends on the season and characteristics of the species.

For this tutorial, we are using hardwood cuttings from (many) deciduous shrubs. These are shrubs and vines that drop their mature leaves and go dormant for the winter.

Hardwood is the fully mature section of plant shoots—the parts that will not bend in your hands—as opposed to the younger, pliable softwood growth that you can bend and twist.

We take hardwood cuttings for rooting in late autumn when the plant is going dormant for the winter, or in early spring before buds form and open. The example shown here is for late fall.

Overall, each cane provides several cuttings and for every 10 cuttings, I get about 6-7 new plants, but this can really vary, so do more than you need.

I say be patient because it does take about a year, and sometimes longer, for good, strong roots to form. But, the advantage is that the cuttings are hardy and can be kept outdoors all year-round. If you have room to stash a container outside or can spare part of a garden bed, it’s really very little effort for a lot of plants. Besides keeping them watered when actively growing, there is nothing to do but cheer them on.

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Contents

• Plants to Propagate From Hardwood Cuttings
• How to Take Hardwood Cuttings
• Resources

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Plants to Propagate From Hardwood Cuttings

These suggestions come from my own experiments and those of other gardeners. If you have success rooting hardwood cuttings other plants not listed here, please let me know.

*Watch for invasive species including Celastrus orbiculatus and Euonymus alatus and White Mulberry (Morus alba).

Related: Handy Garden Checklist: What To Do In Fall & Winter

How to Take Hardwood Cuttings

This video shows the process:

Please keep in mind that these instructions provide a general overview and results will vary depending on the plant, its preferences for propagation, and growing conditions. Once you see the process, you can look up tips for specific plant types as needed.

The example here takes the cutting in fall, starts the rooting process, and stores the cuttings over winter in a sheltered outdoor location.

1Take Cutting

Timing

Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs and vines (see the suggested plant list) in the fall, after ‘leaf drop’, and before the ground is frozen.

Clean Pruners

First, always clean your pruners or knife with rubbing alcohol, or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart or liter of water (for at least one minute) to prevent the spread of disease.

Selecting Hardwood Canes/Stems from Mother Plant

Choose new, straight, hardwood canes (from the past year) that are approximately 1/2″ thick.

Early morning is the best time to take cuttings when plants have their best moisture levels.

Leaf Nodes

The cuts will be made above and below the leaf nodes.

These are the little nubs on the canes where leaves grow from.

Removing Hardwood Canes/Stems from Mother Plant

• When removing the cane from the mother plant, make a straight cut near the base of the plant, directly below a leaf node. This should be hardwood, not softwood.
• Be careful never to damage the nodes when cutting.
• Place the base of the cutting in warm water or damp paper towel.

Next, you will prepare the cuttings for rooting.

2Prepare For Rooting

Preparing Cuttings from the Canes/Stems

• On your cane/stem, count 4 leaf nodes from the base cut.
• Just above the top/4th leaf node, make an angled cut. Check the video to see how I’ve angled mine away from the leaf node.
• Remove any leaves and buds from the bottom 3 nodes. Any growth can remain on the top/4th node.

Base versus Top

• We can always tell the base from the top because the base has a straight cut and the top has an angled cut.

Preparing More Cuttings from the Leftover Cane/Stem

• If there is more hardwood on the rest of the cane, you can prepare more cuttings from it. To check, make sure it’s 1/2″ thick and hardwood (not bendable).

3Plant in Potting Mix

Growing Medium

• Growing medium options include coarse builder’s sand (not fine sand), coarse grit (I use bags of coarse poultry grit from the farm supply store), or a mixture of peat, perlite, and compost. If you have a friendly local grower, ask them what they like best.

Planting Depth

• Plant the cutting so that two nodes are in the growing medium and the top two are above the soil.

Containers or in a Garden Bed

• For containers, you can use winter-proof pots, plastic bins with drainage holes, or plant directly in a garden bed with the right growing medium.

Planting the Cutting

• Before inserting the cuttings, make a hole (using a pencil or dibber) or trough in the growing medium. This will prevent the medium from rubbing off the rooting hormone.
• Plant each cutting so that the two bottom nodes are buried in the growing medium, and the top two are above the soil. The roots are going to grow from the bottom nodes.
• Use plant tags to keep track of everything.

4Water & Grow Cutting

Watering & Overwintering

This method is used in zones 4-8. Because we are propagating hardy, hardwood cuttings, they are fine outside all winter long in a sheltered location and will resume growing in spring. This is one type of “overwintering“.

Unlike softwood cuttings which rely on photosynthesis for energy, hardwood cuttings do not require sunlight. Instead, they get their energy from their woody stores.

• After planting, give everything a nice, deep watering, firm down the growing medium, and stash the container in the garden. A sheltered but sunny location is usually the best.
• If high winds and icy conditions are likely, mulch your cuttings with straw or leaves.

Protect From Animals

• If you have rabbits, deer, or vermin, you may need to add a protective barrier to keep them from snacking on your cuttings when food is scare during the winter.
  
  I like to use little cages made from hardware cloth or upside-down wire mesh waste baskets that allow air and water in but keep animals out. You might have something ready-made or need to make them yourself.

Winter

• The cuttings will be dormant over the winter.

Spring

• In spring, you should resume watering. New growth should appear on the top two nodes. This is a sign that new roots are forming.
• During the spring and summer, you should see continuous growth.

Next Fall

• By fall, most types of plants are ready for proper planting in your garden.
• Growth will vary by species (of course). Some will be vigorous; others will be slow growers. Just like us.

Resources

The list of plants to propagate from hardwood cuttings is included in this ebook:

I hope you will give this a try. And happy growing.

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛