Cuttings - Plants for free

A Gardening Which? trial points to the value of prunings as a source of new plants.

The trial (reported in February 2004) challenges conventional wisdom that cuttings are only likely to be successful if taken in a particular way and at specific times of the year. It seems that precision is not always necessary for success.

Gardening Which? took shrub and climber prunings that are normally regarded as a waste-disposal problem - and simply pushed the trimmings directly into the ground in a shady area. Nature was allowed to take its course with occasional watering being the only nurturing the plants received.

68 types of plant were used in the Gardening Which? 'plants from prunings' trial. Remarkably, more than half (39 types) of the plants rooted successfully, with some, including lavender and shrubby honeysuckle rooting and providing a new plant each and every time.

Julia Boulton, Editor Gardening Which? said:

"The discovery that such a range of plants can be propagated with the minimum amount of effort, is good news for all gardeners, especially those with little time to spare."