Tree Growing

Question

I have a red Japanese maple, weeping willow, and crepe myrtle. I want to know how to take the trimmings at the bottom and re-grow them to plant more trees. I want to be able to do it the right way. Do the roots have to be attached or do I just need to put them in water?

Answer 1

In reference to 'at the bottom', are you referring to the shoots or suckers that may be popping up around the base? Or do you simply want to take cuttings from the trees to propagate? You can dig up the suckers and pot them up in potting soil. When you dig them, up, make sure some of the roots come with the sucker. Keep them well watered and in the shade. When you see new leaf growth, they are ready to be transplanted into the ground. I will warn you though that the suckers will not likely look like the mother and may grow more shrub like. If you are wanting to take cuttings from each of the trees to root, these articles should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/how-to-root-cuttings-from-various-shrubs-bushes-and-trees.htm, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/crepe-myrtle/how-to-propagate-crepe-myrtle-trees.htm (the other trees will be propagated from cuttings much the same)