Take Hardwood Cuttings This Late Winter

Late winter is the perfect time to propagate fruit trees and woody vines. While your plants are still dormant, you can take hardwood cuttings and root them indoors or in a greenhouse, setting the stage for healthy growth in the spring.

How to Take Hardwood Cuttings

1. Select Your Twigs
   Choose pencil‑thick twigs from one‑year‑old growth.

2. Cut Sections
   Using sharp, sanitized pruners, cut 6–10 inch sections. Leave at least ¼ inch below the base bud.

3. Prepare for Rooting
   Lightly scrape the bark at the bottom of each cutting and dip the end in rooting hormone.

4. Plant Your Cuttings
   Insert the cuttings into potting mix or a peat-and-sand blend, leaving the top ¼–⅓ exposed.

5. Care for Your Cuttings
   Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy.

6. Provide Light and Warmth
   Place your cuttings in a greenhouse, cold frame, or a sunny windowsill.

7. Transplant When Ready
   After several weeks to months, once new growth appears, move your cuttings to larger pots or transplant them outdoors.

Taking hardwood cuttings is a rewarding way to multiply your favorite fruit trees and woody vines. With a little patience and care, your winter cuttings can turn into thriving plants that will enhance your garden for years to come.