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Post by wildlifefriendly on Feb 8, 2011 16:04:15 GMT
I’ve got a Berberis darwinii which was in semi shade but is now in full shade. It is too large to dig out plus its roots will be mixed with tree roots. I have read that it can be propagated by layering. Would it need the same treatment as Wisteria? Should I cut halfway through the branch and bury the cut, should I just bury the branch or is there another method I should use?
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Post by Cherry on Feb 8, 2011 20:52:55 GMT
I would do cuttings. This is an under-rated beautiful shrub and you will see the flower buds on it now. I haven't looked for a while, but I think mine is on one leg.
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Post by wildlifefriendly on Feb 8, 2011 21:20:10 GMT
I'll try some cuttings too. Because it has been growing sideways to reach the light, a lot of its branches are touching the ground, this is why I thought layering would be good.
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Post by Louise on Feb 9, 2011 7:08:43 GMT
In a previous garden i had one of these plants layer itself !
I didn't ever give it a helping hand but there was a couple of lower pieces that got pinned down every so often and it propagated itself !
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Post by Cherry on Feb 9, 2011 7:41:25 GMT
That is good news Louise. Mine is going out of control because it is so happy where it is. I will give layering a go too.
I pruned this after flowering, but as usual it is huge again over the summer, so it can't then be pruned. It is just too big, but I do love it.
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Post by Louise on Feb 9, 2011 7:52:15 GMT
Yes, they are huge plants, i decided against one in this garden.
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Post by grindle on Feb 9, 2011 8:30:23 GMT
I had a large one in my last garden which I kept like a small tree
I missed seeing it, so I went and bought another one last year ;D
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Post by wildlifefriendly on Feb 9, 2011 8:31:25 GMT
I've been having a search on the internet and found this.
To create ground-layers artificially, try to find fairly young growth that will touch the ground; make an upward slit in the underside of the bark where roots are required. Dust with rooting hormone and wrap the wound with long-stranded sphagnum moss. The section of the branch to be rooted now needs to be shallowly buried in the soil and pegged in place with a piece of U-shaped wire.
This process should be carried out in Spring and should be left for at least three months ensuring that the area is kept damp. If the layer has failed to root after 3 months, re-cover it and leave until late-summer. If it has still failed to root by this time it is still worth leaving it in position until the following Spring. When successfully rooted, the new plant can be removed and planted up.
I shall be scrabbling under my Berberis this morning, I've been successful using a similar method with wisteria.
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Post by Cherry on Feb 9, 2011 18:02:23 GMT
I do that with Rhododendrons. I will certainly give that a go WF.
You said you bought a Berberis today. Was it this one?
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Post by wildlifefriendly on Feb 9, 2011 18:45:02 GMT
It is not easy so I'm not sure if it will work. The Berberis branches are tiny, I cut right through a few and the others snapped when I pinned them in the ground. I think cuttings will be the easiest.
I bought Berberis lologensis 'Mystery Fire'. It will get big but it is fully hardy and extremely tough, I need that.
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Post by Cherry on Feb 9, 2011 19:37:53 GMT
That is very similar to B. darwinii, with perhaps a little orange. Very nice.
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