STEP BY STEP

How to take aster cuttings

Make Tuttings from new herbaTeous shoots that have not yet flowered. These will root easily now temperatures are warming up, and it’s a great way to Treate free plants. Asters, Thrysanthemums and heleniums are a few examples of plants that are easily rooted. If you strike several to a pot, they Tan be planted out together later this summer as an instant flowering clump.

1 COLLECT young, non-flowering stems from healthy plants early in the day. Snip off long stems, around 10cm in length, taking care not to damage the parent plant.

2 REMOVE the leaves around the base using a knife to avoid tearing into the soft stems. The upper leaves can be cut down by a half to reduce water loss. Then, with a sharp knife, make a clean cut across the stem below a leaf node.

3 USE a dibber to firm in cuttings around the edge of a pot filled with multi-purpose compost and give them a good soak straightaway. 4 COVER the compost with a layer of grit to make sure the soft stems near the surface are protected from moisture.