Live Stakes [River Birch] [Black Willow] [Silky Dogwood
Live stakes, often called root cuttings, are a great way to propagate hard-to-grow plants. This type of propagation involves taking a section of the plant's root and planting it directly into the ground. Live stakes are used to propagate trees, shrubs, and vines.
Several types of Live Stakes can propagate plants. The most common type is the liver birch (Betula pendula). Liver birch is a small tree that grows in moist habitats like swamps and floodplains. It has smooth white bark and grows up to 30 feet tall.
Another type of live stake is the Black Willow (Salix nigra). Black willow is a large tree that grows in wet habitats like swamps and floodplains. It has dark brown bark and grows up to 60 feet tall.
The Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum) is a small shrub that grows in moist habitats such as swamps and floodplains. It has smooth white bark and grows up to 6 feet tall. Silky dogwood is the best type of live stake for propagating vines.
You will need a section of the plant's root to propagate a plant using live stakes. The root should be at least 2 inches long and include several buds. The best time to propagate plants using live stakes is in the early spring when the buds grow.
To plant a live stake, dig a hole twice as wide as the root and just as deep. Place the root in the hole so that the buds are pointing up. Cover the root with soil and water well.
The live stake will start to grow new roots and shoots very quickly. A new plant will grow from the original root in just a few weeks. Live stakes are a great way to propagate hard-to-grow plants. Try it today.
