Conifers such as yew and cypress provide useful structure and evergreen interest in the garden, and summer is the perfect time to increase your stock.

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Conifers are propagated by taking semi-ripe cuttings from the current season's growth, when the wood is woody at the base but soft at the tip.

You'll need to be patient - conifers can take up to a year to root and will be ready to pot on the following autumn.

Follow our step-by-step guide to taking conifer cuttings, below.

You Will Need

  • Secateurs or a sharp knife
  • 9cm pots
  • Pencil or dibber

Total time: 15 minutes

Step 1

Conifer cutting
Conifer cutting

Use clean, sharp secateurs to cut a length of stem that is woody at the base and green at the top. Place this in a plastic bag and process the cuttings immediately.

Step 2

Prepared conifer cuttings
Prepared conifer cuttings

Make a few cuttings from your stem, 10-15cm long, cutting below a leaf joint. Then remove the leaves from the bottom third of the cutting - these could rot when planted in damp compost.

Step 3

Inserting conifer cuttings into compost
Inserting conifer cuttings into compost

Fill a 9cm pot with free-draining compost (a 2:1 mix of cutting compost and horticultural grit). Using a dibber or pencil, make holes around the edge of the pot and insert the cuttings to leaf level.

Step 4

Watering conifer cuttings
Watering conifer cuttings

Plant three cuttings per 9cm pot, then water in well and allow to drain. Place the cuttings in a warm, light spot, out of direct sun, and ensure that the compost is always moist.

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Want to know more? Watch our video guide to taking semi-ripe cuttings.

Use leftover hedge trimmings

If you have a trimmed a conifer hedge, you could select some of the trimmings to use as cuttings material.
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