Apple Tree Hardwood Cuttings

Older growth which has developed a bark exterior is called hardwood.

Apple tree hardwood cuttings.

These phrases refer to the state the wood of the plant is in. Hardwood cuttings provide an easy and reliable method of propagating a range of deciduous climbers trees and shrubs and as bonus they are taken from mid autumn until late winter when more time is usually available to the gardener. The apple tree malus domesticus has been developed into hundreds of varieties in many shapes fruit colors and sizes to suit growing climates and. New growth that is still pliable and has not yet developed a bark exterior is called softwood.

Semi hardwood is last year s growth that has weathered a winter and is still supple but not hard and brittle. Hardwood cuttings are even simpler to prepare than softwood or herbaceous cuttings as we use cuttings from dormant deciduous trees and woody plants and this technique is very useful for propagating fruit trees such as figs pomegranates mulberries and quince. Apple trees may be grown from branch cuttings if the right cutting is used and the plant is given the proper care. The best way to propagate apple trees is to graft a cutting onto a rootstock.

If you root a cutting direct into the ground you re likely to get a tree which will grow 30ft tall or more and put all its energy into this growth rather than fruiting. There are two types of cuttings to start shrubs bushes and trees hardwood cuttings and softwood cuttings. Cut several semi hardwood cuttings from a healthy apple tree in the early spring before the buds open. Some evergreen plants hollies for example can also be taken at the same time of year as other hardwood cuttings.

An apple branch may be encouraged to grow roots and in time become a fruit bearing tree. However that doesn t mean it is impossible to get an apple tree to root from a hardwood cutting but the success rate will be low and it may take up to six months for the cutting to root.