There’s something deeply satisfying about snipping off a bit of stem and turning it into a whole new plant. And while summer may be slipping quietly out the side door, don’t pack away your tools just yet. September still has plenty to offer on the propagation front.
For me, this is the month to get stuck into softwood cuttings of tender perennials and semi-ripe cuttings of flowering shrubs. I always see it as a kind of insurance policy – especially for pelargoniums, which may not survive the first frost. Far easier to store a dozen small pots in the greenhouse than to haul full-sized, large specimens around. I also like to prep a few trays of penstemons and fuchsias this month, to be spread around the yard next spring. A small amount of effort now for a big reward next year.
