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Directions for unrooted hardwood privet
PREPARED CUTTINGS
Privet is one of the easiest shrubs to grow from hardwood cuttings. No special, expensive equipment is involved, just a little attention to detail. May be rooted in-place or in a nursery bed and then transplanted out to the final location the second year. The cuttings in this shipment are considered “prepared”. They have already been cut to proper length, treated, and have been in cold storage since late November. Hardwood cuttings must have at least 90 days of cold treatment before rooting. This time in cold allows the base of the cutting to “callus”. This is the early formation of the root structure and may look like a ‘tumor’ growing around the outer diameter of the cutting base. Do not cut this off!! This is normal.
While this method of propagation for this plant is considered easy, it is not for the raw beginner. Attention to detail is crucial and weeds must be excluded from the growing bed. Cuttings must be planted with 7 days of receipt or refrigerated at 40 degrees with high humidity until planted. (Store in Zip Lock bags at the back or the refrigerator. NOT the freezer! Do not attempt planting out before March 1st . (Exception is if you are in a cold climate where cuttings can be planted out in cold soil). Keep in refrigerated storage until then. Maximum 180 days in refrigerated storage. Shipped wet with basal ends in wet packing material. End that "goes in the ground" is dyed blue and treated with IBA rooting hormone. Do not cut this off. Minimum planting depth is 6".
Prepare a well tilled soil bed that is well drained. Sandy loam is best. Avoid heavy clay unless you amend with lots of organic matter. Do not use sand to amend clay. That makes cement when it dries! Open a trench or “slot” 6” deep. Space cuttings as directed below 12” apart.
The cuttings are inserted in the ground with a minimum two-thirds of the cutting below ground as they will root along the stem. A few buds remain above the ground to allow the plant to grow out in spring.
If outdoor conditions are unsuitable, bundles of 10 to 12 cuttings can be heeled into a frame filled with moist sand until the spring weather allows planting out. Frost and freezing temperatures will not affect the outcome. DO NOT wait too long to set them out! Early May would be the latest. Firm the soil around the cuttings and water in well.
Within a few weeks the cuttings will start to leaf out. Some may have their leaf growth collapse because there are not enough roots to support the plant. Do not pull these out! They may still root. The others will develop roots as they leaf out. Keep the nursery bed well weeded! Competition from weeds will slow rooting and delay good results. Keep the rooting bed moist, but not soaking wet. Light shade in the summer may be necessary in areas with high summer temperatures. Fertilizer is not necessary. Should you desire to give a light feeding, use a fertilizer that is LOW in nitrogen. Nitrogen can cause lush top growth at the expense of roots. We want roots the first year, not lush growth. 5-10-5 at ˝ strength is adequate. We do not fertilize ours at all the first year.
By fall, the cuttings should be pretty well rooted. Wait until the following spring to transplant them out to the final location. Dig carefully and wide when transplanting as the new root system can get quite dense and spreading. Dig as EARLY in the spring as possible. Transplanting should be complete before bud break.
Space in the final location 12-18” apart for a hedge. Cut off the top 4-6” of the growth to induce lateral branching. Water well and keep weeds at bay.
