What are the chances.......

What are the chances of getting Hebe cuttings to root this time of year please?

I started twenty the year before last which rooted easily in early summer and are now 3 feet tall. They are under way now for a new hedge for my neighbour, but a couple didn't survive so there's a couple of gaps to fill in.

 

Sheal, there is one way to find out. Go for it.

 

Your right of course Dai, thanks. I'll give them a go.

 

Is layering an option here?

I mention it purely because I have to be the least lucky person I know when it comes to cuttings (I have had occasional success, but not much), whereas every time I've propagated by layering it has always worked.

The idea is if you can find a long enough and young enough branch that emerges from close to the ground, you can bend it down into contact with the soil and then peg it down. Just like a cutting, it will try to root where the stem meets the soil. The key difference being that the intended cutting is still being fed by the established roots while it develops its own, whereas with a cutting its a bit of a race where the new roots have to grow before the cutting dries out, rots, or simply runs out of energy reserves.

 

Thanks Clueless,

Layering isn't really an option as this is a hedge in my neighbours garden with my own fence against it. Plus they have a young Jack Russell that would probably make mischief and dig or tear it up.

I will give the cuttings a try now, if they don't take I'll leave it until spring to try again. There's no great rush but it would be nice to have the young plants in next summer so they can catch up on the rest of the hedge.

 

Sorry, I forgot to mention the new hedge is already in situ and extends to approx. 60ft.