Hedging your bets

HEDGING is making a comeback in gardens and it’s not surprising. There are many different types, from low-growing buxus, to the traditional cypress, that can create lovely, separating dress-up spaces in a garden, as well as the traditional fencing.

It’s not hard to grow your own from scratch.

To begin, choose a healthy and vigorous hedge plant as the “parent”. This plant should show no signs of disease, have vibrant foliage, and be free from pests.

The best time to take cuttings is during the plant’s active growth period, typically from now and early spring or as late as early summer.

Select young, non-flowering shoots that are around eight to 10 centimetres in length, as these are more likely to root successfully.

Before taking cuttings, ensure your tools are sharp and clean to avoid damaging the plant tissue.

A clean cut encourages faster healing and reduces the risk of infection. Make a diagonal cut just below a leaf node using a sharp pair of pruning shears.

Once you have your cuttings, strip off any leaves from the lower half of the stem. This prevents excess moisture loss and helps focus the plant’s energy on root development.

You should also dip the cut end in a rooting hormone to promote root growth, although this step is optional.

For rooting medium I tend to use a seed raising mix, although a perlite-based medium is as good.

I use the smallest of the black polythene bags for this purpose, but you can use small pots or trays. Fill these with the soil and insert the cuttings about two centimetres deep.

Water the cuttings gently to settle the soil around them – mist watering is always best.

To create the best environment for rooting, loosely cover the cuttings with a clear plastic bag or sheet of plastic.

This helps maintain high humidity levels, which are essential for root development. Place the cuttings in a bright, indirect light location, but avoid direct sunlight, as it can cause excessive heat buildup and moisture loss.

Throughout the rooting process, it’s crucial to monitor the moisture level of the rooting soil. The medium should be consistently moist but not waterlogged. Mist the cuttings and the inside of the covering to maintain humidity – which is why clear plastic is such a good idea.

Roots typically begin to develop within a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the plant species and environmental conditions. Once you notice new growth and resistance when gently tugging on the cuttings, (try not to do that for at least six weeks) it’s an indicator that roots have formed.

When the cuttings have established a sufficient root system, they can be carefully transplanted into larger pots or directly into the garden.

Make sure you harden off the young plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions before transplanting them into their final positions.