Timely Matters

The weather is beautiful and the gardener wants to be outside, recharged and recharging. Today I took cuttings of my native azaleas, hoping that it's not too early. The key to knowing when to propagate cuttings of most flowering shrubs is when the stem, when bent, will snap instead of bending. Not woody but supple and green. It generally falls in early June for azaleas. I use a mix of grit (fine turkey or chicken), sand, and a fine potting soil to mix an amendment that will drain well. 

The idea is to give the stems support but drain well so the stem won't rot. In the bottom of rather shallow pots I add regular potting soil and this gritty mix on top, about 2" deep.

Since the cuttings will not have a way to pull moisture into the leaves, it's essential that the leaf surface is reduced. What ever moisture is in the plant, will have to last until roots sprout. Cut leaves by half and leave a joint in the grit, that is where roots will emerge.

I also leave room at the top of the pot so stems are not subject to wind (which dries them up), but sunken to just below the rim. 

In a few weeks I will test the stems, hoping for some resistance which will let me know that they have managed to sprout roots. Leave them in the shade for now, water enough to keep the medium moist, and cross your fingers. I have left more stems on the mother plants in case this fails and I have to try again. 

Now that we are in June, I have been reviewing May in the garden. I am still working in the lovely garden in Warrenton. As lovely as it was with numerous flowering shrubs, I felt that the peonies suffered from early heat and there was a certain lack of gusto for May. 

In my own garden I loved this combination and think it's worth repeating in any sunny location. Amsonia (my aggresive cross with tabernaemontana) and Allium 'Gladiator'. The amsonia is chocking out my peonies, but a few put up a good fight.

Of the peonies that have proven superior is 'Scarlet O'Hara'. She is tall enough to rise above the amsonia and has been a real champ!

Clematis 'Good Samaritan Joe' has also been tough and beautiful. Not overly tall, perfect on a four foot support.

As far as timely chores, consider splitting up any bulbs that are going dormant. In a week they will be dormant and invisible. Jack-in-the-pulpit, trillium, and Virginia bluebells are just a few examples. Guessing where they are is not fun. 

Comments

[Deborah Crabtree]

As for rooting hydrangeas, do the same rules apply? Should you find a stem that didn't flower or does that matter as long as it has leaves?

Thank you! Deborah

[Karen A Rexrode]

Deborah, the same rules do apply, they are basically the same for perennials and woodies. If the plant has a flower or seed, it won't work on that stem or at least remove them. There are different types of hydrangea, so cuttings may be collected at different times. I have not grown hydrangeas from cuttings but know many who have. They tend to ripen or become more snappy, later in the year, early fall for example. But the same rules apply. There are also YouTube videos that show the technique. Good luck!