taking swedish aspen cuttings now...?

16 years ago

Here in Calgary most swedish aspens are not in bud yet,I'm interested in taking some last years growth and with rooting hormone planting it this week..

Would it be better to wait a month or 2 and get this years growth and leave a couple of leaves on them? My book on poplars explains cutting the leaves in half and only leave 2 or 3 leaves on.. Last year I did this in large coffee cups and let them freeze .in late Feb I brought them inside and put them under a florescent grow lite ( with my tomatoes seeds) and several buds opened up only to die of lack of nutrients as they had no roots ( I discovered ).I have one that is growing ,but I think it mat be a choke cherry variety,it;s bud opened under ground and came up beside the stem,Its been doing ok for about 3 weeks now so I think it must have rooted..My swedish aspens all died .

I'd like advise on planting swedish aspens .,my propagation book doesnt mention them ,but for poplars says to take cttings in mid winter ,drive a hole into the ground 3 feet or so and put the 5 foot cutting into it .They obviously have never tried this in mid winter in Calgary.The ground is frozen like rock.. It is just now mostly thawed ..

Any advise will be appreciated .

Neil

Neil

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

prairierose
16 years ago
Neil, I've attached a link to the PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act) website. They grow their trees in Indianhead, Sask, so their advice for rooting willow and poplar cutting should work here. It may be getting a little far into spring - depends if your trees have budded out or not - but it would be worth trying. I got some willow cuttings from them last spring and planted them in pots - 6 out of 10 lived, and they may have done better if I had just planted them directly into the garden. I'm trying my own poplar and willow cuttings this spring.

Connie

Here is a link that might be useful: Poplar and Willow Cuttings from Hardwood
Konrad___far_north
16 years ago
I have taken pussy willow sticks about 2 to 3 feet long, make a bundle
and stick them into a large 25 liter plastic pail filled with a mix of potting
soil and a little sand, most rooted, you can try the same with poplar, wrap
the outside exposed sticks with shrink wrap, then poke holes into it,
this keeps the moisture level up, put the pail in
the bush or shade.
Remember, if you're planing willow, take pussy willow, it will help out
the bees for pollen source in early spring. [bee food]

Konrad
Related Professionals
Westminster Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Galveston Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Niles Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Pocatello Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · California Landscape Contractors · Clarksburg Landscape Contractors · Martinsburg Landscape Contractors · Kearney Landscape Contractors · Merced Landscape Contractors · Edmonton Landscape Contractors · Lagrange Landscape Contractors · Charleston Basement Remodeling · Hilton Head Island Basement Remodeling · Williston Basement Remodeling · Pullman Basement Remodeling