December 2, 2022, 4:36 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Layering plays an important role in plant propagation. This article explains what it is and how to create layers.
In the plant world, layering is a method to create an offshoot, allowing the plant to propagate. This is particularly suitable for garden plants with long, flexible shoots. These shoots are carefully placed a short distance from the parent plant into the soil or a new pot. There, they develop independent roots, which can eventually be separated from the parent plant.
Creating Layers with These Plant Species
To lay shoots of the parent plant into the soil or a new pot without breaking or damaging the runner, the shoots must be particularly flexible and long. This is the case with plants such as boxwood, dogwood, and various berry bushes. Berry bushes often propagate in the wild this way, making layering particularly easy for beginners. Climbing plants like clematis or honeysuckle can also be propagated through layering.
Layering: Instructions
- The ideal time is during the summer months of June and July, as plants grow quickly and abundantly, and the soil is warm. For layering, select shoots that are as long as possible and not older than one to two years. They are usually still soft, and the lignification process has not yet begun.
- Loosen the soil with a garden claw where the layer will be placed. Then, use a shovel to create a trench 10 to 15 centimeters deep, where the shoot for propagation can be laid.
- The shoot itself should be cleared of leaves and branches, leaving only the tip with leaves.
- Place the prepared shoot in the trench and anchor it in the soil with a short wire. Cover the shoot with soil. For sturdier shoots, place a stone on the now-closed trench to prevent the shoot from escaping the soil.
- If the layer is properly laid, the shoot tip should rise vertically from the soil a short distance from the parent plant. A trellis is especially useful for climbing plants.
- Water the shoot. After a few weeks, the layer should have developed its own roots and can be separated from the parent plant with a sharp knife and planted in a pot or a suitable spot in the garden.