2104 - Layering & Division

Question 1

Layering

Answer 1

Propagation method for plants that do not respond well to cuttings.
Suited to plants that can have stems bent to the ground, with roots emerging from that point to produce new plant.

Question 2

Parent plant for Layering must be:

Answer 2

True to type
Vigorous and healthy
Free form P & D

Question 3

Simple Layering - Time

Answer 3

Deciduous plants respond well to Layering in Autumn.
Evergreen plants respond well to Layering in Spring.

Plant may be cut back hard in the preceding Spring to encourage healthy young growth near the base.

Question 4

Simple Layering - Method

Answer 4

• Select healthy, vigorous and flexible shoot growing toward the outside of the plant.
• Mark a suitable point near to the parent plant, where the shoot may be buried. (Bamboo cane)
• Remove the leaves and side shoots from the shoot about 30-40cm from the tip.
• Cut a shallow, longitudinal incision through a bud and dust with rooting powder
• dig a 10-15cm trench, where you have previously marked
• Place the stem in the trench with the incision at the base. Secure with pegs, replace the soil, firm and water.
• Insert bamboo cane adjacent to the Layer and gently bend upwards and tie in the tip which is now vertical.
• The following Autumn, sever the layered stem from the parent and pinch out to encourage bushy growth.
• test to see if layer has rooted well, transplant if so.

Plant example for simple layering:

Cotinus coggygria

Question 5

Serpentine Layering - Method

Answer 5

Similar to simple layering but with multiple layers along a single stem.

• Layer a node, then leaving one above ground, layer the next and so on.
• This should produce multiple new plants from a single stem.

Plant example:

Clematis spp.

Question 6

Air Layering - Ficus elastica

Answer 6

• Evergreen plant best in Spring
• choose a healthy, P&D free (etc.) stem, 1 to 2 years old
• trim off side shoot and leaves from a 1ft, 30cm area.
• Wound the stem, and an angled cut through a leaf bud angled toward the shoot tip. Creating a tongue that can be lifted.
• Apply rooting hormone powder
• Pack small amount of sphagnum moss under wound
• wrap the wounded stem with black plastic, and seal at one end with weather proof tape
• pack the wrapping sleeve with moist sphagnum moss
• Seal the other end of the wrapping sleeve with weatherproof tape
• Leave for up to a year, opening occasionally to check for new roots.
• Once strong new roots are visible, cut through the stem just below the rooted section.
• Pot up the new stem and grow on
• always check for P&D

Plant example: Ficus elastica (rubber plant)

Question 7

Layering and Diseases

Answer 7

Layered plants will often inherit the same Pests and Diseases of the parent plant. This is why it is important to select a parent plant that is Healthy and free from Pests and Disease.

Monitor and treat regularly.

Question 8

Divison

Answer 8

The dividing of mainly herbaceous perennials

• Can be divided at anytime, provided they are kept well watered. Though most successful divisions will be when the plant is not in active growth, Spring or Autumn.
• Avoid dividing when it is too wet, to avoid rots.

Question 9

Divison - General

Answer 9

• Lift plants with a garden fork, working outward from the crown centre to avoid damage.
• shake off excess soil so roots are visible
• many plants will produce plantlets which can be easily teased out and replanted: Ajuga reptans
• Small, fibrous rooted perennials can be lifted and gently pulled apart producing small clumps to replant.
  Hosta spp. Heuchera spp.
• Large fibrous rooted perennials, require two garden forks, inserted into the crown back to back. Use as levers to break the root mass.
  Geranium spp.
• Woody crowns may require, chopping with a sharp spade, or using a knife
• Alchemilla mollis

Question 10

Division - Hosta spp.

Answer 10

• Genty pull apart, cultivars with loose fleshy roots.
• Tougher fibrous roots, use a sharp spade or hand tools to divide clumps.
• Clumps may then be divided again
• plant division at their original depth.
• division helps to maintain vigour of parent plant
• creates numerous free young plants.

Question 11

Division - Geranium spp.

Answer 11

Using two forks back to back, prize the two sides apart.

Question 12

Divison - Alchemilla mollis

Answer 12

Woody thick crowns will require using a sharp spade or knife to cut.

Question 13

Suckers

Answer 13

• Root adaption which send up new shoots.
• Best done in Late Winter/Spring so the sucker can quickly establish
• Establishment can be main issue, as the sucker will have small undeveloped roots. Careful watering and monitoring is necessary.

Question 14

Suckers- How

Answer 14

• Loosen soil around the sucker with a fork
• Carefully lift and expose the sucker and associated roots.
• Using sharp knife sever the sucker making sure it had fibrous roots on the detached portion (replace soil around parent)
• Trim the sucker bay removing the main stolon or root up to the fibrous roots.
• reduce long leafy shoots by half to limit drying out
• plant in freedraining, well aerated….. ground or container
• firm in and water well
• careful monitoring and watering necessary in first season
• monitor for P & D

Rubus idaeus - raspberry
Rhus typhina