By Debby Looney, gardening expert

It seems such a short time ago we were at the beginning of the summer, and here we are almost at the end again!

I say this most optimistically as it is a great time to take softwood cuttings and to propagate your own plants. Basal cuttings are the easiest type of cuttings to take, also, they root at almost a one hundred percent rate. Plants suitable for this type of propagation are mostly perennials. Shasta daisies, penstemon, aconitum, delphinium, campanula, geraniums – these are all excellent candidates.

The process is quite simple. Take a sharp, clean, knife or secateurs and cut a strong stem as close to the ground as possible. The closer to the root you can cut it, the better, as that is where you will have the highest concentration of growth hormones. Also, in a lot of cases you will notice little bumps on the stem. These are already the beginnings of new roots. Cut the top of the stem off to about 15cm, this prevents the plant putting its energy into the top growth.

Prepare a pot with a mixture of half sharp sand and half seed and cutting compost. Dip your cutting into a clean jar of rooting power and tap off the excess. While rooting powder is not essential it does make a difference to your success rate. Never dip your cutting directly into the container your powder comes in, as it can increase the risk of disease, and also leads to the product clumping. There is also a rooting gel available, however, I still think the powder is more reliable. It is a mix of growth hormone and an anti-fungal compound, which will both aid in the rooting of your cutting while at the same time preventing it from rotting.

NEXT STEP

The next step is covering them with a clear cover, a bell cloche is ideal for pots, or alternatively a layer of clear plastic supported by some bamboo canes. If you are working on a small scale, a clear plastic bag tied around the pot will also suffice. It is important the plastic does not touch the leaves as this will lead to rotting, and that the pots are not placed in full sun, as this will lead to scorching. The covering creates a closed system where there is no need to open it up and water it, as the condensation runs back into the pot. It also controls the temperature and atmosphere. There is no need to put these cuttings into a warm place, a sheltered spot outside is fine. Ideally, do not touch them until you see new growth. What I sometimes do myself is put some slow release fertiliser in the lower half of the sand/compost mixture, so I can leave the plants until the following spring. Once the roots are formed, repot your plants into 10cm pots, and leave them to grow on until they are a size suitable for the garden.