Propagating Boxwood - any experience?

I'm thinking about propagating a lot of boxwood from an existing shrub. I want to make a knot garden, but want it to be economical. For those of you who have done this, how long did it take to go from a cutting to a decent sized shrub, and what method did you use? Thanks.

Pgt, I rooted some cuttings last year and it took a few weeks for them to start sending out roots. I used rooting hormone powder and stuck them in a pot of potting soil. Had about a 75% success rate. Have no idea how quickly they grow from rooted cuttings. The ones I put in the ground last fall were still pretty small this year, ie: haven't grown hardly at all. But it's still early.

Thanks for the reply, msrobin, so I have to ask: what time of year did you do your rooting?

Also, did you use just plain soil to root them in?

I ask all this because my little boxwood is such a little shrub, I don't dare to waste much of it.

Melissa, I took my cuttings around Easter, both this year and last year. I've always read that the newer growth in the spring roots more easily, so take my 5" - 6" cuttings from the tips of the branches. However, I have done new growth cuttings through the middle of summer. Just have to make sure you have plenty of time to root them and then plant outside early enough for them to settle in before winter. I'm in zone 6b, so it's probably a good time for you to start taking cuttings where you are now. You can easily tell the new growth, because it's a different shade of green than the rest of the plant.

The boxwood cuttings last year were off of my DIL's new plants and yours can't possibly be any smaller than her's were. I don't think her's were more than 6" - 8" tall last year, so I only took 4" cuttings. They were just recently planted before she bought her house. She's not a gardener and really didn't like them anyway, so didn't mind me taking a few cuttings and I only took a couple of cuttings off of each plant. That also encourages the plant to put out new growth, which makes your shrub fuller. This spring, her plants were already a foot tall and filling out nicely with new branches from the roots.

When I take cuttings to root, I usually use a flower pot and put several cuttings of the same plant together in one pot. I use potting soil. Cut the ends of your stems at an angle and remove all but a leaf or two at the top, poke holes in the soil with a pencil, dip your wet stems in rooting hormone (found at Walmart and gardening centers), then place in the holes. Push the soil down around the stems gently so as not to knock the powder off the stems. Water slowly so you don't disturb the soil too much. I take a clear plastic bag and slide over the top of the pot, leaving it loose around the bottom. I use straws or skewers to hold the bag up and away from the cuttings. Set the pot in a some kind of tray with a little water (add water as needed to keep it at about a 1/2") and set it where it won't get any direct sunlight. Spray mist the cuttings a little each day and keep the soil slightly moist. I usually take the plastic off for a couple of hours everyday so there's less chance of developing mildew. You'll know your cuttings are doing okay as long as they stay green and when they start putting out new leaves. However, I have had stems that lost all of their leaves and still put out new growth later. It can take a month or more before you see any signs of growth.

This works with cuttings from a number of shrubs. I have done roses, crepe myrtle, rose of sharon, flowering quince and butterfly bush. Not every cutting will root, but I've probably had about a 75% success rate.

Hope this information helps. Once you root your first batch of cuttings, it can become an obsession if you aren't careful. LOL!

I'm already obsessed, I'm just not having terrific success with everything I try. Roses, for instance, I'm a total wash-out with roses. But I'm propagating lavender, sages, bee balm and several other things like mad. I got myself one of those tiny 4-shelf, covered-with-plastic 'greenhouses' that amount to a set of shelves with a zip up plastic cover. I've had good success with it so far.
I want to become better with roses, the boxwood, lilacs, and a handfull of other plants. I have a rose garden and would love to line the beds with a little boxwood border.

Old english boxwoods are slow growers.However they are very easy to propagate.I do mine in june through sept.Rule of thumb on an OE is 1" per Yr.I moved four from my home place in 1983.They were about 16", now they are waste high.Cuttings I rooted fron same shrubs 5 Yrs. ago are 12"-14".

mqiq77: this is great news, but it leaves me with the question 'how will I know an OE from any other kind?' Is it in the name, the Latin name or some other way?

One other concern: I know I live in an area that it USED to be said you couldn't grow boxwood. I know this so well because our former landlady was the first one to create a boxwood that would grow in this climate. She was very famous locally for it, and her house was ringed with this massive boxwood hedge as a kind of tribute to her accomplishment. This was back in the small numbers of the 20th cent. so I'm wondering if an OE boxwood would grow around here. Perhaps it's too hot, sunny and dry? I am 5b, but the summers are torrid and dusty and the winters snowless and parched.

the most distingushed feature of the old English boxwood is the the height, and width are in proportion.They grow about one inch a year.When I went with DW to the cemetary where her family is burried, In Chillichote, I noticed that there were "Korean" boxwood, but I don't recall the OE.The Korean has more of pointed top, compaired to the OE, witch is rounded.BTW, that cemetary is probably our future home. Mike

Neat-o, Mike, so you know the area.If you ever want to visit the house I speak of, it's on Church St, close to the horrendous 5-way intersection at the west end of Main St. Looks like it's been lifted from Baton Rouge, La, this house, iron porch with wisteria winding through it, whole house hiding behind a pretty substantial boxwood hedge, and lots of huge mature evergreen trees in the yard. Iron fence under the hedge too. At least it was like that. The lady's since passed on and the family may have changed it somewhat.

Thanks for the observation re: boxwood. i'll do some more research on the different types of boxwoods and where they like to grow and how fast.--Melis

Here is a helpful site that I found. Click back to the home and start exploring.
I am about to start propagating 300 of these from my hedge.

http://www.boxwoodsociety.org/boxwood_propagation.htm

Melissande, Did you have any luck with the lilacs? I need about 178 of those but have not started researching on the best way to get them.

PGT:
Here is a pic of boxwood I stuck the cuttings in May 2008. As you can see they do grow it just takes time. My original thought was to sell some plants to offset the outflow of cash our fun hobby requires. I know it took quite a while to get them to root. Its funny how we just see something and just have to try to get them to root out. I know I am that way, I like the challenge. Ok I will have to post it in few moments. BRB
Dave

ok... i have got to connect my laptop to my home system so I can reach out from the laptop and retrieve the files I want off the external hard drive. LOL I hope thats the worst of my problems
Dave

A second pic

Those cuttings look nice and healthy. Great job! I don't think I have the patience for boxwood cuttings. It's hard enough for me to wait for 2nd blooms from perennials grown from seed :)

I know everyone says that to me but I think if you tried those along with some other stuff and just set it to the back it will take care of itself. At least thats how I am doing it. You are right about the long time to get them of size. I am toying with the idea of just selling what I have and moving onto something that is more interesting to me.
I do know what you mean about the perrienials. I have a lot of seedlings growing now that I am hopeing to see the blooms on next year. My dear wife thinks I am nuts because I do everything in groups of 50 to 100 and it seems we end up with a lot of stuff and no idea what to do with it. Good thing I like to trade.
Do you have any pics of what you are doing? What design are you thinking for your knot garden?
Dave

OOO I can't wait to give this a 2nd try my first batch fell victim to the "creatures that be" I love my korean boxwoods, and want to extend their presence in my yard, I don't see them much on availabitily lists anymore, and when I do fins a few they are not very healthy looking plants at big box stores. Definately giving this project another go.

Third go round no good...it mut just be too hot

This message was edited Sep 4, 2011 4:29 PM

Followed the link and it was outdated. This is one I cut and pasted
http://www.boxwoodsociety.org/abs_about.html#How%20are%20boxwoods%20propagated?

great link thanks

that is a great link...I am setting up my propagation tray in some 3201 flats, hopefully I can set them in with my fall/winter sowings and next spring have a few new plants:O)