Bay trees

[Muddypause]

I've just pruned back someone's bay tree that was getting out of hand. This means that (if I can get round to drying the leaves on the cuttings) I may soon have a lifetime's supply of bay leaves.

But can I grow a tree from a cutting? If I just stick a sprig in the ground, will it take root?

[Millymollymandy]

I'm not sure! I know that my giant potbound triffid was a cutting from my Mum's plant. I would have thought that softwood cuttings (from the tips) put into pots of potting compost with some hormone rooting powder might be the best. Not sure if it would work sticking it straight into the ground, but if you have enough you could try both.

[Wombat]

Stew, this is straight out of Hemphill;s "Herbs - ther cultivation and usage" -
"Cuttings are taken when the new Spring leaves have hardened. Each cutting should be 6 inches long and of new wood. Break the cutting away from the old wood, leaving a heel 1/4 inch long, which must be trimmed carefully with a charp knife to eliminate any bark which overhangs the heel. Strip the bottom leaves off the cutting, leaving 2/3 of the bare stalk to press into a pot of wet river sand. Keep cutting watered at all times."

I'm with M3 - give it a go, maybe the rooting powder (Can't they think of another name for it? ) may make up for other shortcomings!

Nev

[Millymollymandy]

I remember that word from when I was in Australia donkeys years ago - is it still currently used? I don't think it was ever used in British English!

[Muddypause]

I was a bit puzzled by what you meant until I realised what the embarrassed icon in Nev's post was for. That usage certainly hasn't made it to my vocabulary of BritEng, though some of the hipper young dudes around here may know it. It seems to be mainly an Oz thing: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Root#Noun

Anyway, I shall be experimenting. I have enough cuttings to try all suggestions - some are already stuck straight in the ground, a couple in pots with compost, and I'm just off to buy some of that powder.

Thanks all.

[tmd]

I know it can work, because my dad's done it.

I've heard anecdotally that a good soak in willow water (willow roots or branches steeped in a bucket overnight) can replace rooting hormone (auxin, isn't it? It's been ages...) There's no study out that supports it, but as far as I can tell the lab occupies a vastly different reality than the garden, and different physical laws apply.

Otherwise, make sure you bag the pot to keep the moisture in. You could also go the stick-the-cutting-in-a-new-potato route, which works sometimes to keep roses damp.

[Wombat]

G'Day Guys,

Sorry I thought such expressions were more universal than they obviously are - we have a local suburb called Rooty Hill which is variously described as Seductive Heights or just "That Mountain"

Yes TMD I have read about the willow water too. I want to give it a go, but it is on the list!

Nev