TAKE SEMI-RIPE CUTTINGS

if you have a mild corner in your garden which is well out of the wind, you could make a bed for semi-ripe cuttings.

You’ll need some clear or milky polythene for a protective cover over the cuttings.

On healthy shrubs, look for shoots which are on the point of turning from soft and herbaceous to woody. The ideal semi-ripe cutting will have a soft, bendy green tip but a firm, woody base.

Plants suitable for this method include hedging such as privet, holly and box. You can also take them from hydrangeas, laurels and herbs, such as rosemary or thyme.