Propagating your own plants

Many plants can be reproduced (propagated) relatively easily to increase your stock. The simplest forms of propagation—raising plants from seeds, taking cuttings, layering shoots, or dividing clumps—are easy for even the amateur to master, providing an inexpensive supply of new plants, as well as offering a greal sense of satisfaction for the gardener.
How you propagate your plants is determined by the nature of the plant and by the timescale at your disposal. Nature being what it is, some plants are incredibly simple to propagate, while others have to be coaxed into reproduction with exactly the right conditions— optimum warmth, light levels, and moisture. Some plants, such as annuals, grow very quickly from seed, creating a magnificent display of flowers within a few weeks of planting. Others, such as most trees, will take years to grow into a reasonable sized plant and you would be better advised to obtain these as bare-root plants via mail order or as container-grown specimens. Other plants will grow well but may not flower for many years.

Seeds or cuttings'?

Plants naturally reproduce themselves from seeds, in a process known as sexual propagation; however, their cell structure is such that it is also possible to create a new plant just from a cut portion (a "culling") of the real, stem, or root. Other methods include division, grafting, and layering. All these met heels come under the heading ol vegetative propagation and are covered in the remainder of this chapter.
The method of propagation you choose depends largely on which is the most successful and reliable. Although most plants will grow well from seeds, the process can be slow and occasionally the plants do not breed true to type, so that the seedlings differ substantially from the parent plant. II it is particularly important to you that the offspring closely resembles the parent, vegetative propagation is usually the best option.
Whichever method of propagation you choose, the first thing you must ensure is that the parent plant looks strong and vigorous because its state of health will affect the quality of its offspring.
II you are collecting seeds yourself, make sure they are fully ripe. You will be able to tell when the seed is ready to be collected, because the pods or seed eases will begin to crack. You should collect seeds on a dry day. For cuttings, choose non-flowering shoots or, it that is not possible, remove any flowers from the
Choosing a plant for propagation by cuttings. This container-grown shrub has a well-developed roof system and healthy stems and shoots. I he compos! surrounding the
rootbail is free from pests. The plant s energy is directed into the formation of new roots.

PROPAGATION

Propagation is the use of seeds or other parts of living plants to produce more of the same. This is not only economical, but it also gives you a real sense of achievement. You can propagate your own plants from seeds or cuttings, or by layering, division, or grafting. In these ways, you can take advantage of what you have already grown to create additions to your original stock.
Seeds Growing new plants from seeds is the most common method of propagating a large number of plants quickly. The timing for collecting seeds is critical. Too late and the seeds will have dispersed, too early and they will not germinate at all. If damp, leave them in the sun to dry thoroughly; if you are not sowing them immediately, store them in a cool, dry place until needed.
Cuttings Increasing your stock of plants by taking cuttings from their stems is a common way to propagate woody plants. Stem cuttings can be subdivided into three categories: softwood—which is taken from shoots ol the current season's growth (spring and early summer); semi-ripe—taken from shoots oi the current season's growth as soon as the base o( ;i shoot has turned woody (late summer and autumn); hardwood—prepared from the Current seasons growth once the leaves lave fallen off (late autumn and early winter). Only take cuttings from a healthy plant, discarding any thin and weak shoots. For best results, choose non-flowering shoots as these will root more readily. I lowever, if only I lowering shoots are available, remove the flowers when preparing the cuttings.
Bulbs
Bulbs can be grown from seed success! dully. although for some it can take up to seven years before the seedlings will flower. For this reason, it is preferable to use the propagation methods of scaling and scoring bulbs to get results quickly. Bulbs such as lilies can be scaled, which involves breaking their small, narrow scales away from the base of the parent bulb to plant as single new bulbs that will
grow the same year. Bulbs such as hyacinths should be scored, which involves taking the parent bulbs from their pots in early autumn, cutting grooves in the base with a knife, and then planting them in compost. Bulblets will form and be ready for planting out by the following Fall. Both methods are carried out under glass or clear plastic and produce flowers that can be identical to the parent plant.

PLANTING IN A POND

Tools and materials

• suitable containers
• compost
• bricks
• water plants
• stones or pebbles

1 impossible, ill (oral least half-fill) the pond with water several days before any new plants arc introduced to allow any sediment to settle and the temperature stabilize. There possible, position the planting containers, such as (his drainage pipe, ill this stage, leaving them part full of compost and ready for planting.

2 Position the plant into the drainage pipe so that the root ball sits on the layer of saturated compost and press the plant firmly into position. This is particularly important, because some plants may float if they are not firmly anchored.

3 II is important to ensure that plants are out their correct depth in the pond. They are too deep, they will die due to lack of oxygen, House bricks can be placed in the wiiler to stand containers on and keep the plant growing at its ideal depth. The bricks should be soaked in water/or several days to wash out any chemical residues be/ore being placed in the pond.

4 Once the bricks are in position iii the water, place the container of your choice on them.

5 You can place a layer of stones or pebbles on the surface of the compost to slop soil and peal particles from floating to the water's surface.