Plants for Free: How You Can Propagate Your Own
Fill your garden with plants grown the old-fashioned way, from seeds, cuttings and divisions
Do you dash off to the garden centre every time you have a bare spot in the garden? Why not give your wallet a break and try your hand at propagating your own plants, just as our grandmothers used to do? It may take a little more time to collect seeds and grow seedlings, but the process is so rewarding. Once you’ve done it successfully, you’ll be hooked on propagating your own plants.
There are also many plants that self-seed so easily they’ll supply you with baby seedlings that pop up around the garden. Or you can pick the seedpods off at the end of summer and save the seed for sowing next season. Perfect for repeat planting, or creating the large blocks of plants that look so lovely in the naturalistic style that is so popular now.
There are also many plants that self-seed so easily they’ll supply you with baby seedlings that pop up around the garden. Or you can pick the seedpods off at the end of summer and save the seed for sowing next season. Perfect for repeat planting, or creating the large blocks of plants that look so lovely in the naturalistic style that is so popular now.
Saving seeds
When saving seeds from flowering plants, stop deadheading (removing spent blooms) well before the end of summer to allow them time to dry out and for the seeds to ripen properly.
The vivid green seed heads of the Euphorbia (pictured) will eventually turn brown and dry. That’s the time to cut them off with clean, sharp garden scissors and put into a large paper bag.
Depending on how the cold the winters are in your region, you can either scatter the seeds directly where you want the plants to grow or store the seeds for sowing in spring.
When saving seeds from flowering plants, stop deadheading (removing spent blooms) well before the end of summer to allow them time to dry out and for the seeds to ripen properly.
The vivid green seed heads of the Euphorbia (pictured) will eventually turn brown and dry. That’s the time to cut them off with clean, sharp garden scissors and put into a large paper bag.
Depending on how the cold the winters are in your region, you can either scatter the seeds directly where you want the plants to grow or store the seeds for sowing in spring.
Storing seeds
The flower heads of coneflower (Echinacea) produce plenty of seeds in autumn that store well for sowing in spring.
If storing seeds, separate into smaller paper bags or envelopes labelled with the flower name and date. Store in a cool, dry and dark place, ideally in an airtight glass jar so seeds don’t go mouldy.
Spring flowering bulbs to plant now
The flower heads of coneflower (Echinacea) produce plenty of seeds in autumn that store well for sowing in spring.
If storing seeds, separate into smaller paper bags or envelopes labelled with the flower name and date. Store in a cool, dry and dark place, ideally in an airtight glass jar so seeds don’t go mouldy.
Spring flowering bulbs to plant now
Easy plants to sow
Flowering plants that self-seed easily include drought-tolerant Californian poppy (Eschscholzia, pictured) and cottage garden favourites alyssum and lobelia.
If your winters are not severe, their seeds will germinate freely around the garden. Rather than try to collect their seeds, beginner gardeners could wait until the seedlings emerge in the garden, then simply replant them.
Flowering plants that self-seed easily include drought-tolerant Californian poppy (Eschscholzia, pictured) and cottage garden favourites alyssum and lobelia.
If your winters are not severe, their seeds will germinate freely around the garden. Rather than try to collect their seeds, beginner gardeners could wait until the seedlings emerge in the garden, then simply replant them.
Natives to grow from seed
Many Australian and New Zealand native plants such as wattles and banksia, flaxes, Libertia species and rengarenga lily (Arthropodium cirratum) can be grown easily from seed.
The best time to gather seeds is when they are ripe at the end of the flowering season.
Native plants that do us proud
Many Australian and New Zealand native plants such as wattles and banksia, flaxes, Libertia species and rengarenga lily (Arthropodium cirratum) can be grown easily from seed.
The best time to gather seeds is when they are ripe at the end of the flowering season.
Native plants that do us proud
Annuals to grow from seed
Among the many annual flowering plants that are easy to grow from seed is Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena). It has feathery green leaves and blue or white flowers in spring and summer. It’s attractive round seed pods can be left on plants or stored for sowing next season.
Other flowering annuals that produce lots of seeds include cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus), Cineraria and cosmos.
Among the many annual flowering plants that are easy to grow from seed is Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena). It has feathery green leaves and blue or white flowers in spring and summer. It’s attractive round seed pods can be left on plants or stored for sowing next season.
Other flowering annuals that produce lots of seeds include cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus), Cineraria and cosmos.
Flowering shrubs to grow from cuttings
Many woody and herbaceous shrubs can easily be grown from cuttings.
The easiest flowering shrubs you could grow from cuttings include Chinese lanterns (Abutilon), hydrangeas, evergreen hydrangea (Dichroa versicolor) New Zealand native hebes, fuchsia and hibiscus.
Ask kind neighbours, family and friends if you can take cuttings from their plants. Always check out garden manuals for the best time to take cuttings as it varies for different plants.
Many woody and herbaceous shrubs can easily be grown from cuttings.
The easiest flowering shrubs you could grow from cuttings include Chinese lanterns (Abutilon), hydrangeas, evergreen hydrangea (Dichroa versicolor) New Zealand native hebes, fuchsia and hibiscus.
Ask kind neighbours, family and friends if you can take cuttings from their plants. Always check out garden manuals for the best time to take cuttings as it varies for different plants.
Hedge plants to grow from cuttings
Hedges are a great feature in any garden, but buying all the plants you need is not so nice when you’re on a budget. It will take longer, but growing them from cuttings will cost only the potting mix and a few pots.
Ask for trimmings when the neighbours prune their hedges, particularly from easy-to-grow box (Buxus), camellia, Mexican orange blossom (Choisya ternata), hebe, Corokia and Coprosma, hibiscus, honeysuckle (Lonicera), lavender and orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata).
Hedges are a great feature in any garden, but buying all the plants you need is not so nice when you’re on a budget. It will take longer, but growing them from cuttings will cost only the potting mix and a few pots.
Ask for trimmings when the neighbours prune their hedges, particularly from easy-to-grow box (Buxus), camellia, Mexican orange blossom (Choisya ternata), hebe, Corokia and Coprosma, hibiscus, honeysuckle (Lonicera), lavender and orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata).
Flowering perennials to grow from divisions
All flowering perennials such as the daylilies pictured need to be divided up every three to five years to rejuvenate plants and ensure better flowering.
Perhaps a neighbour has a garden full of overgrown perennials that need to be divided, so why not offer to do so in return for some of the divisions?
When you’re next out walking, look out for big clumps of Agapanthus, Canna, Dianella, renga renga lily, Clivia and daylilies. Their owner might be only too happy to let you divide them up.
A gardener’s guide to subtropical climates
All flowering perennials such as the daylilies pictured need to be divided up every three to five years to rejuvenate plants and ensure better flowering.
Perhaps a neighbour has a garden full of overgrown perennials that need to be divided, so why not offer to do so in return for some of the divisions?
When you’re next out walking, look out for big clumps of Agapanthus, Canna, Dianella, renga renga lily, Clivia and daylilies. Their owner might be only too happy to let you divide them up.
A gardener’s guide to subtropical climates
Foliage plants to grow from divisions
Many plants we grow mainly for their beautiful leaves such as the Dianella variegata ‘silver border’ pictured can also be grown from divisions.
Flaxes, Libertia species and many grasses grow into large clumps, which you can break up into smaller clumps with a sharp spade, ensuring each piece has some roots, before replanting.
Others such as flaxes, bamboo and many reeds have a rhizome (underground stem), and you need to choose a part that has both an established shoot and some stem when dividing.
TELL US
Are you a propogating pro? Share your tips, photos, or experiences in the Comments section.
MORE
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Many plants we grow mainly for their beautiful leaves such as the Dianella variegata ‘silver border’ pictured can also be grown from divisions.
Flaxes, Libertia species and many grasses grow into large clumps, which you can break up into smaller clumps with a sharp spade, ensuring each piece has some roots, before replanting.
Others such as flaxes, bamboo and many reeds have a rhizome (underground stem), and you need to choose a part that has both an established shoot and some stem when dividing.
TELL US
Are you a propogating pro? Share your tips, photos, or experiences in the Comments section.
MORE
Top 10 Garden Jobs to Tackle This Autumn
7 Common Garden Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Bountiful Gardens: The 6 Zones of Permaculture
If you have never propagated plants from your own seeds before or you’d like to get the kids involved, start with species with large seeds such as sweet peas, nasturtium, dietes and sunflowers as they’re easy to handle and not super fussy about their growing conditions.
Harvest seeds on a dry and sunny day, choosing seedpods that have turned brown and can be easily split open, or flower heads that are starting to dry and lose their colour.