Rooting Privet Hedge Branches

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Ricky from Lansing, MI

A: Ricky,

Privets (Ligustrums) can be propagated by seed, grafting or cuttings. They should be propagated by cuttings or grafting if you want to ensure the same characteristics as the parent plant. Instead of rooting them in water, try applying a rooting hormone and rooting them in soil. Your chances of success will be greater. A lot of people try to root tree and shrub cuttings in water, and often end up with rotted cuttings and frustrating results. You may also not have given them enough time. The softwood (neither green, nor mature stems) and spring hardwood cuttings are the easiest to root, but will still take at least eight weeks before you will see roots emerge. Also, some cultivars (like glossy privet) can be uncooperative when it comes to rooting. Actively growing terminal cuttings will root the best. Take a few 3 to 5 inch cuttings. Remove the lower leaves and dip the cuttings into a rooting hormone. Stick the cuttings into a plastic seedling cells filled with a light-weight rooting mix (40% perlite and 60% soil-less mix and cut the remaining leaves in half to reduce transpiration. If possible, water the tray of cells from the bottom and stick them into a plastic bag to create a humid environment for the cuttings. Place the plastic covered tray in a sheltered part of the garden (dapple sun) and keep and eye on its moisture level. Check the bottoms of the cells for roots in 4 to 6 weeks.

Good luck!

Ellen