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How to take basal cuttings

How to take basal cuttings

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Wednesday, 6 March 2019 at 3:29 pm

Find how to take basal cuttings, to boost your stock of plants like asters, phlox and dahlias.

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During April, the strong basal shoots of herbaceous perennials make easy, quick-rooting cuttings. The tall forms of phlox are ideal candidates, and gardeners have long propagated them in this way to share with friends and neighbours. From July, you'll see many gardens awash with their pink, purple and white flowers, and their perfume fills the evening air.

By taking your own basal cuttings, you can make lots of new plants, which gives you plenty of scope to try out different planting ideas. And you can use this technique on all manner of beautiful border perennials.

You Will Need

A sharp knife
A dibber or chopstick
Sharp grit
Clear plastic bag

Total time : 30 minutes

Step 1

Select a plant with plenty of strong basal shoots, 10-12cm long, and choose three or four for your cuttings. Make a clean cut, severing the shoot as near to the base as possible.

Step 2

Neaten the cut if necessary, then use a sharp knife to remove any basal leaves that may end up under the compost surface. Pinch out the top with your nails.

Step 3

Use a dibber or chopstick to ease the cuttings into the compost, sinking them to at least 2.5cm deep. Cuttings will root most readily if placed around the edge.

Step 4

Cover the compost surface with sharp grit to discourage weeds and retain moisture. Water and mist the cuttings frequently to cut down on loss of moisture through the leaves.