Cuttings/ border shrubs????

[happyjo]

I have a good size garden , surrounded by 2 foot soil borders all the way around. The borders are pretty bare, poppies, lavender amd a few small fruit trees.

My friend has a lovely garden with lots of greenery and shrubs..

How can I take cuttings? what plants are best to cut from

And what cheap shrubs can I buy that are winter hardy... live near the coast so we have gusty winds at times!!

Thanks Jo

[Thunderbird+]

Hi Happy jo,
Shrubs can look lovely in the right place and if chosen well can be easy to care for too.
Some shrubs are very easy to take cuttings from and others need a little more skill or specialist treatment but the majority usually root fairly easily and is a good way to increase your stock and can save you ��� and lots of satisfaction.
Fuchsia root very easy if you take 2" cuttings, just below a leaf joint (node) and insert them in 2"pots and put them somewhere sheltered like a cold frame during summer.
Forsythia is also easily propagated but it's best to layer low -growing shoots by pegging them down in the ground or try some cuttings in the open ground in the autumn.
What I would suggest you do is invest in a book that can help you decide what plants are suitable ie sun, shade, etc, one book that I find invaluable, which I think is many A gardeners "bible" 'The tree and shrub expert' by Dr d. g. Hessayon. It takes you through step by step of every aspect of growing and after-care with lists of plants suitable for coastal areas and soil types etc and for about �6.99 it wont break the bank either! Good Luck. Tbird+