How to propagate shrubs from semi-ripe cuttings

Take semi-ripe cuttings in mid to late summer from shrubs such as ceanothus, choisya, hydrangea, lavender or philadelphus. Snip healthy, non-flowering shoots around 13–15 cm long and slip them into a bag so they don’t dry out.

Prepare the cuttings. Trim each stem to about 7.5–12.5 cm, cutting just below a leaf joint. Strip leaves from the lower half to two-thirds. Dip the base in rooting hormone if you use it.

Pot up and water. Fill 10–15 cm pots with moist, gritty cutting compost. Tap to settle it and insert the cuttings up to the lowest remaining leaves. Firm gently, water with a fine rose and label.

Keep them warm and out of direct sun in a propagator or under a clear bag propped above the leaves. Once they’ve rooted, pot them up separately and grow them on.