Having trees and shrubs in your yard ensures a pleasant yard, but they can be costly to purchase. Luckily, you don’t have to spend a fortune to have greenery on your property. You can create your trees by rooting stem cuttings.
Unfortunately, propagating trees from cuttings can become a real headache if you don’t know how to do it. In this blog post, our professionals at Raleigh Tree Service, a trusted provider of professional tree service in Wake Forest, will teach you how to root a cutting from a tree.
What’s the Best Time To Take Cuttings From a Tree?
Successfully growing trees from cut branches starts with knowing when to get stem cuttings from the tree you want to propagate. You can take cuttings and root them at almost any time.
However, tree cutting rooting techniques often work best when you take your cuttings from new growth that hasn’t yet become woody. So taking cuttings from trees and shrubs from April through June works best. You’ll also need to use a rooting hormone to ensure successful rooting of tree clippings.
What Tools Will You Need for the Task?
Learning how to root a cutting from a tree includes having the right equipment for the job. You should have at least the following:
- Sharp knife, pruners, or scissors
- Sharp stick or pencil
- Small trowel
- Small pots or planting tray
- Soilless potting mix
- Rooting hormone
Steps for Rooting Tree Branches
Now that you have everything you need to root cuttings from a tree, follow the steps below for a successful propagation:
Get Your Cuttings From a Healthy Tree
Use your knife or pruners to cut a three- to six-inch piece from a healthy stem section of the parent tree. Be sure to cut at a 45-degree angle to increase the surface area available for healthy root development.
It’s best to take the cuttings from the tree’s newest growth and make sure each cutting has at least two sets of leaves along its length. Also, each cutting should have at least one growth node from where more roots will sprout.
Remove the Leaves Before Applying the Rooting Hormone
Rid the leaves off the bottom node of your stem cuttings, retaining at least three leaves. Apply the rooting hormone to the severed end of your cutting and the spots where you removed the leaves.
Plant Your Cuttings
Add a soilless potting medium to your small pots or planting tray. Use a pencil or stick to create a hole in the growing medium. Next, place the end of your cuttings in the medium and gently tap the mix around your cutting’s stem to hold it straight.
Care for Your Cuttings
Place your cuttings somewhere they can receive shade and dappled light in a 50/50 ratio. Keep the growing medium uniformly moist but not soggy as the roots develop.
Check your cuttings every fortnight for fresh growth and root development. Remove any flower buds that develop, as they can hamper healthy root development.
Transfers Your Cuttings
Have you noticed new leaf growth emerging along your cutting’s stem? It indicates you have new, healthy roots. Use a small trowel to scoop out the rooted cutting and transfer it to a new pot with fresh soil.
Contact Your Local Tree Experts for Assistance
If you need help with how to root a cutting from a tree or want to learn other tree cutting propagation methods, Raleigh Tree Service is your go-to local arborist.
We provide a wide range of services, including:
- Lot clearing
- Tree removal
- Tree trimming and pruning
Call us at 919-889-5783 to schedule a consultation or to learn about viable tree root damage in Wake Forest, NC, today!
