Multiply your perennials with root cuttings

1 Lift a plant and wash of the soil to see the roots. With large woody plants, simply expose some thick roots by excavating with a trowel.

2 Using a sharp knife or secateurs, cut several thick roots into sections. Make a straight cut at the top and angled cut at the base.

3 Make each cutting around 2-3in (5-7cm) in length. Longer pieces of root can be cut several times to make several cuttings.

4 Insert cuttings into a pot of compost and grit, so that their tops are flush with the compost’s surface. Water and place in a cold frame.