Propagating plants by layering

About layering

Layering is a simple form of propagation which consists of bending a low branch or shoot down to soil level, wounding the shoot and then covering this portion with soil to encourage it to root. It can then be severed from its parent to produce a new plant.

What to do

How to layer

• Select a non-flowering shoot that's strong and healthy. It should be low-growing so it can touch the soil surface without breaking.
• If necessary, trim off several of the leaves to give a clear length of stem along the section that is to be placed in contact with the soil.
• Use a knife to make a slanting cut through the underside of the stem at a leaf joint; the point where a leaf joins the stem.
• Ensure that the cut goes no deeper than half the width of the stem.
• Hormone rooting powder may be applied to the cut, although this isn't normally necessary.

• Dig out a small hole or trench approximately 5cm (2in) deep using a hand trowel.
• If the soil is heavy, it's worth adding a small amount of grit and some potting compost.
• This should provide the young roots that are produced from the cut with the perfect medium in which to grow.
• Carefully press the prepared length of stem into the hole. This should open the wounded section slightly.
• If necessary, the wound can be wedged open by inserting a matchstick into the cut.
• Hold the stem in place by pinning it to the soil with a forked twig or a piece of bent wire.

• Cover the pegged section of stem with some more potting compost and firm it in well.
• The finished level of compost should be slightly higher than the surrounding soil. To prevent the stem from rocking and to help retain moisture, you can also stand a brick or large stone on top.
• Push a cane into the ground near the free end of the stem. Bend the stem upwards and tie it to the cane.
• Water the layered area well and keep it moist throughout the following growing season.
• By autumn the rooted layer should be ready to be cut from the parent plant.

Layering climbing plants

A slight modification of the technique, called serpentine layering, can be used for climbing plants. Rather than using a single part of the shoot, several portions of a climbing plant's stem are covered with gritty soil, with the leaves or side shoots left uncovered.The covered portions are sometimes cut, but will often root with no special treatment.

Air layering

Air layering works in a very similar way to conventional layering, except that the plant shoot doesn't need to be buried in the ground to stimulate the production of new roots. By wounding the plant and then packing the wound with a bandage of moist compost (wrapped in polythene) the plant can be 'tricked' into producing new roots and ultimately, a new plant. This technique works particularly well on magnolias, rhododendrons and lilac, as well as houseplants such as rubber plants and bonsai.

Five to try

• Amelanchier lamarckii