If you have a favorite rose bush, you can propagate it through cuttings. The classic method is to root rose cuttings indoors in pots, but you can also do so directly in the garden.
The method below is one taught to me by my father some 50 years ago … and it still works today!
- Cut a green or semi-woody stem from your favorite rosebush. In the Northern Hemisphere, that would likely be in June or July. The cutting should be about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) long.
- Remove the lower leaves and any flowers or buds.
- Insert the bottom end of the cutting into the ground, directly in the garden, in a partially shaded location.
- Water well.
- Place an inverted wide-neck bottle or the bottom of a soda bottle over the cutting to act as a mini-greenhouse.
- When new leaves appear, remove the bottle: your cutting will be rooted!
- Transplant the cutting to a spot suitable for growing roses (full sun, rich soil with good drainage) … and watch your new rosebush grow!
It couldn’t be easier!