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The wonder of plants is their innate ability to survive with no help from, or perhaps in spite of, human intervention. Plants know how to perpetuate and increase their numbers through several different ways and it doesn’t matter what the gardener wants. Plants will do as they please. Gardeners, however, are nothing if not masters of manipulation when it come to plants within their gardens and they will not allow propagation to take place in their gardens without their hand being in it.
Propagation is the ultimate in manipulation and gardeners love doing it with their favorite plants so they can have more plants for themselves and for friends and relations. By collecting seeds, dividing perennials, taking cuttings and rooting them gardeners can increase their supply of plants infinitely. But there is also the little known propagation by layering.
Propagation by layering is arguably the easiest way of propagating garden plants but perhaps also the least known. As every gardener should know of this method let us discuss the how and when of propagation by layering.
While some plants, such as Hosta, Daisy, Monarda Bee Balm, Daylily and Iris, take quite easily to being divided there are many others, mostly shrubs and delicate vines which take better to layering. Some plants, like Forsythia and Rhododendrons actually do this on their own. The branches lay on moist ground and eventually root. This rooted piece of the bush could then be snipped off the “Mother” plant and you have another plant, an exact clone on the “mom”. Mimic nature and you can layer virtually any plant which doesn’t take readily to other propagation methods.
In the case of a Rhododendron which isn’t easy to propagate by cuttings, layering is the easiest way. You simply taking a branch low on the bush and bend it, without breaking it off the mother plant, until it can touch the ground. Where the branch actually touches the ground you will need to slightly rub at that spot until you see some green. This is called the cambium layer. For more of a chance of this working make certain this is also where leaves emerge on the branch. Roots are more likely to grow at the leaf node. With the cambium layer exposed place this on the ground and cover with some soil. If necessary place a rock or brick on this spot to ensure it doesn’t dislodge.
Now for the hard part, you will have to wait. It could be a considerable amount of time depending on conditions like moisture in the soil and the temperament of the plant. Rhododendrons like to take their time so don’t be surprised if it takes six or more months before you see some roots. Check for roots every 3-4 weeks and when you do see a good amount, enough for you to think it could sustain itself on its own, you can cut the branch off the mother bush. You can then pot it or plant it in a protective place, where it can grow bigger before going into your garden proper.
In the case of vines it is almost sinfully easy to propagate by layering. Honeysuckle vines, as a matter of fact, along with many other vines, do this entirely on their own but you can help the more reluctant ones like the Clematis. Clematis is generally a rather persnickety plant and seems to least object to layering for propagation purposes. Very carefully lay a stem of the Clematis on the ground and do as with the branch of the shrub. Make certain a leaf node touches the ground but you won’t need to rub the spot to expose the cambium layer as the stems of the clematis are not generally as tough as those of a shrub. Place moist soil on the spot and place a brick on it or use large U-hooks to hold it down. Again, the tough part is the wait. Check every few weeks and when you see some roots you may pot it up and snip it off the mother plant or leave it where it is to cover a larger area of fence.
Propagation by layering may sound a bit tricky at first but once you get the hang of it you’ll see it truly is the best way to propagate those stubborn plants which don’t ordinarily take to other methods. Try it on a plant you particularly would like to see more of in your landscape and your neighbors will proclaim you Propagator Supreme. You wouldn’t mind that now, would you?
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Author Bio Box: Glory Lennon
 Visit http://www.helium.com/users/32782 for more fascinating gardening lessons, amusing short stories and intriguing novel excerpts.
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