An Easy Way to Multiply Your Shrubs

Have a shrub you love and want to make more? Create genetic duplicates with this easy technique

Layering is a plant-propagation technique that allows gardeners to make clones, or genetic duplicates, of their flowering shrubs and climbers. “Layers” are easier to root than stem cuttings because they remain attached to their parent plants—getting all the nourishment they need—while their new root systems develop.

Autumn is the primary season to layer deciduous shrubs in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7 and warmer; where winters are colder (and for evergreen shrubs), spring is the better choice. Some shrubs will send out roots in a matter of weeks, while others may take anywhere from 2 months to a year. During this time, the gardener need do little more than keep the soil moist and watch for developing roots.

Read more: http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/an-easy-way-to-multiply-your-shrubs