Propagate Hardwood Cuttings

1,000 Cuttings, to propagate hardwood plant cuttings 1,000 at a time during the winter is an efficient and rewarding way to grow your plant nursery business. Whether you’re starting small or aiming big, this process can yield substantial returns. Here’s a detailed breakdown of our time commitment, cost-saving tips, and benefits of propagating 1,000 hardwood cuttings, along with some insights into scaling up your efforts.

Watch our video on Propagating 1,000 Hardwood Cuttings

Preparing the Propagation Totes

To propagate hardwood cuttings, we use about 8 clear plastic totes filled with a rooting mix of perlite and sphagnum peat moss. Prepping these totes involves gathering the materials and filling them, which takes approximately 2 hours.

One exciting discovery has made this process even more cost-effective. Martha found clear plastic totes for sale at her favorite local thrift shop. These totes are often brought in with donated clothing, and the shop sells them for just $5.00 each, about half the cost of buying new ones. This is a fantastic example of how resourcefulness can save money while supporting local businesses.

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What you need for Harwood Cutting production – our recommendations:

• Hormodin 3 Rooting Hormone
• A Pair of Felco Bypass pruners
• Enough Clear Plastic totes for all your cuttings
• about 1/2 a 4 cubic foot bag of Organic Perlite Planting Soil Additive
• Sphagnum Peat Moss

Collecting and Preparing the Hardwood Cuttings

The cuttings are sourced from various locations, including:

• Plants growing on our property
• From our current Nursery stock
• Church and friends’ properties

This process not only provides the hardwood cuttings needed for propagation but also benefits the plants in the nursery. By taking cuttings from nursery plants, we naturally shape them, improving their health and appearance, which enhances their ultimate sale value.

We propagate a variety of plants and trees from cuttings, including:

• Green Giant Arborvitaes
• Kousa Dogwood Trees
• Double File Viburnum
• Andromeda
• PJM Rhododendron
• Various Junipers
• And several more.

On average, it takes 1 hour to collect and prep 100 cuttings. This includes cutting the stems, trimming to the appropriate size, and preparing them for rooting. For 1,000 cuttings, this step will take approximately 10 hours.

Total Time Commitment for Hardwood Cuttings

Tote preparation: 2 hours
Cutting collection and preparation: 10 hours
Total time: 12 hours

Softwood Cuttings in Late Spring

In addition to hardwood propagation in winter, we also take softwood cuttings in late spring. This process is similar in time and effort, allowing us to propagate another 1,000 plants. By staggering propagation techniques and seasons, we ensure year-round production and increased inventory for future sales. For us, 1,000 plants is just an example, we try to propagate around 3-4,000 plants per year in addition to bare root plants that we purchase such as Norway, White and Blue Spruce. See our article on how to Propagate Plants All Year for some additional insights.

Scaling Up: The 1,000 Plant Example

The example of 1,000 cuttings is just the beginning. With proper planning and resources, you can easily scale up to propagate 2,000, 5,000, or even 10,000 cuttings. The time investment grows proportionally, but so does the potential revenue and impact on your nursery’s growth.

The Reward: Future Plant Value

The time invested in propagation pays off significantly. In 2-3 years, the propagated plants will reach a purchase-friendly size and be ready to sell. They will each be worth an average of $20-$25. For 1,000 cuttings, this equates to a potential revenue of $20,000 to $25,000. Scaling up to 5,000 cuttings could generate $100,000 to $125,000 in revenue. Of course you will need to weed, water, fertilize, prune and sell these but the income potential is significant.

Why Propagating Hardwood Cuttings is a Win-Win

Propagation offers more than just financial benefits—it’s also an excellent way to maintain and improve the health of your nursery plants. By taking cuttings, you’re shaping the parent plants, encouraging stronger growth and better form. This not only prepares them for sale but also ensures a thriving nursery ecosystem. We really like that we can do this during the winter months when we not as busy. A few hours per week can yield 1,000’s of cuttings.

Whether you’re propagating 1,000 plants or scaling up to 10,000, this process is a cornerstone of building a successful plant nursery business. It’s a rewarding way to grow your inventory, enhance your nursery’s health, and secure a steady source of income for years to come.

See more of our Backyard Nursery articles and videos.

Backyard Nursery Resources
Starting a Plant Nursery
Starting a Backyard Plant Nursery
How to make Money with Plants
Plant Propagation