Phlox subulata

Phlox Subulata or moss pink or creeping phlox is the perennial to propagate and is used in rock gardens, as edging along pathways, and on slopes. Color varies from red, white, pink, blue, lavender, or purple. Standard propagating procedure is by division, however because it can spread out up to two feet, the procedure I suggest is layering and again not all the branches are self-rooting and one needs a microscope to find the starter roots. It is best to dig up a clump and systematically break apart the clump gently and use 5-6 branches clumped together to pot and cut back the top growth to approximately 3" to help promote root growth and branching out when the plant takes hold. Make certain all plants that you are attempting to root have ample water and you will have a blast of spring color in your landscape garden bed once the roots are formed and transplanted.

Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster, a fast growing semi-evergreen groundcover type woody plant is the next to propagate by layering. Remember layering occurs when a plant spreads along the ground and sends out roots under optimum soil conditions. Not all branches, just some. Depending on the climate usually if the branch is pruned early in the spring and potted in a good sand/manure mix with bone meal, one should have a sturdy new Cotoneaster to plant in the landscape garden bed by fall. Make certain the branch that is planted in rooting medium is pruned back to about 6 inches so when it starts growing it will branch out in two or more different directions. Rooting hormone is not necessary. Cotoneaster is an semi-evergreen with small red berries in the fall and landscape designers usually use it to flow over walls or in rock gardens because most varieties cascade with the new growth appearing at the top with the old growth dying underneath.

Layering.

Now that I have gleaned over propagating perennials by division, and there are many more different varieties of plants then I covered, actually that’s how I propagated the biennial, Columbine, because it is self seeding, the next step is propagation by layering and this occurs when plants spread branches out parallel to the earth and send out roots into a fertile patch of loose soil. You prune the branch that sent out roots back towards the base of the plant. You bunch together a handful of these cuttings, pruning back the top growth to curtail it from initially sending out new growth until the roots take hold. This is the natural growth habit of Euonymous, in this case “Emerald Gaiety,” an evergreen woody plant,as shown in the picture. What some people do, because this can be the easiest way to make rooted cuttings if there is ample moisture and good loose soil surrounding a plant is to layer or bend a branch parallel to the soil of a particular plant variety, then pin it to the ground with heavy gauge wire bent in two to hold the branch down close to the soil and in the fall after the branch is rooted they prune the newly rooted branch and pot it up. Again bone meal and a watering procedure are a necessity and are good horticultural practice.