Carol’s pick for hardwood cuttings

Blackcurrant

Currants, whether red, white or black, produce straight, thick stems that are ideal for this method. Fruits Jun-Aug HxS 1.5m x 1.5m

Shrub roses

Shrub roses are slightly easier to propagate from cuttings than climbers or ramblers. F Jun-Aug HxS 1.5m x 1.5m

Physocarpus opulifolius

You can make more of this with softwood cuttings, but hardwood cuttings will root easily given time. Flowers Jun HxS 2.5m x 2m

Buddleia

Although buddleia self-seeds, if you want more of a specific variety, you have to increase it vegetatively. F Jul-Sep HxS 3m x 5m

Mock orange

If well-pruned after flowering, philadelphus should make nice strong canes too. F Jun-Jul HxS 2m x 2m

Forsythia

Any strong new growth resulting from early pruning is ideal to make more of this spring-flowering shrub. F Feb-Apr HxS 3m x 3m

Willow

Orange winter stems and yellow spring catkins make Salix alba ‘Britzensis’ a stand-out display. F Feb-Mar HxS 12m x 8m

Viburnum opulus

Fat flower heads, then autumn colour. Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’ is also good on heavy soils. F May-Jun HxS 4 x 4m