Today 
Overview
Taking root cuttings couldn't be easier and it's the ideal way to increase your stock of perennials, such as phlox, rhus, mint, Japanese anemones and Primula denticulata (see picture). Take cuttings now and you'll be potting up new plants in spring.
Do it:
December - January
Takes just:
30 minutes
How to do it
-
Use a garden fork to lift the whole plant out of the ground gently, taking care not to damage its roots. -
Wash the roots in water to remove any soil. Using a sharp knife, cut off 5cm lengths of healthy roots. When you've finished taking cuttings, you can replant the parent plant. -
Fill pots with gritty compost and lay the root cuttings, well-spaced apart, on the surface. -
Cover cuttings with a thin layer of compost. Water well, label pots and place in a cool place indoors or in a cold frame.
"Thick roots can be pushed vertically into planting holes made with a pencil. Make sure they go in the right way up. Roots will form at the end that was furthest away from the parent plant, so this end should sit in the bottom of the planting hole."
