How to Grow Trees From Cuttings
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Growing trees from cuttings has a number of advantages over other propagation methods: You end up with a mature tree much more quickly than you would starting from seed, and it's a simpler process than grafting. The tree is a genetic duplicate of the parent tree, with all of the same characteristics. Follow a few steps for propagation of hardwood cuttings.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instruction
Step 1
Prepare the ground. You will want to do this in the early fall, while the ground is still warm, and you'll need well-drained soil. You may need to add some sand to a heavier soil. The shovel should be pushed vertically into the ground to make a narrow trench about 7 inches deep (for hardwood cuttings) and only an inch or two wide. Trenches should be spaced 12 to 15 inches apart.
Step 2
Select the cuttings. After most of the leaves have fallen from the tree, you can cut the stems. Select stems that are straight, healthy and young. Cut just above a bud, using the first 12 inches of a stem.
Step 3
Trim the cuttings. Remove any remaining leaves. Then trim the cutting to about 8 inches in length, making a diagonal cut at the top, just above the new top bud, and a horizontal cut at the bottom, just below a bud.
Step 4
Insert the cuttings. Cuttings should be placed 4 to 6 inches apart in the trench. For a multi-stemmed tree, leave about 1 inch of the stem above ground. For a single stemmed tree, leave only the top bud of the stem showing above the surface of the soil.
Step 5
Firm the soil. Use your feet on either side of the trench to bring the soil together and firm it down. Rake the surface and label the rows.
Step 6
Transplant the cuttings. One year after the initial planting, your cuttings will be rooted. Carefully lift each cutting using a hand trowel. Pot each one individually, or plant in its final location.
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