How to take plant cuttings

Take healthy shoots about 10 cm long from shrubs or climbers. Fill a pot with an equal mix of compost and grit.

Trim the base of each cutting just below a leaf joint and remove all but one or two pairs of leaves at the top. Dip the base in rooting powder if using it, then insert the cuttings around the edge of the pot and water well.

Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag and put it somewhere shaded. Keep the compost damp. The cuttings may root in six to eight weeks, depending on the plant and conditions.