[Bizzi Lizzi]

Twenty years ago,when I first met my beloved, we went holly hunting for Christmas.  In the new year I simply stuck the sprig in the garden and it is now a proper holly bush with berries and all.

Since then, I've tried many, many times to grow from cuttings on various types that I have growing in my garden but nothing will root.  I've used every method known to man and beast but still nothing.

Any tips?

[Aunt Sally]

Find another beloved and go holly hunting with him

Or take semi-ripe cuttings i.e. cuttings from this year's growth, late summer/early autum. 

There's a lot of useful tips on the rhs site:

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=404

[Bizzi Lizzi]

I even followed Carol's foolproof method of taking cuttings from Gardeners World but nothing.

[michellela]

Find another beloved and go holly hunting with him

Ha!  Was my thoughts exactly.

That's a really nice story Bizzi Lizzi, very romantic.

[GrannieAnnie]

Don't you get any baby plants growing from dropped berries?  We are always getting tiny holly's growing from the berries in next door's garden.

don't know if we have any at the moment, but if you like I can have a look and could send you one or 2 if I have?

[Pip Judgeford]

Geoff Bryant (Gardens for Free) advises soft or semi hard cuttings in spring thru to autumn have a 50-80% success rate  (eh?? sounds random to me).  There is a grain of wisdom there: softwood cuttings often work where others are hard to take.  Me, I'd also make a plastic bag "hat" held up by a couple of stick and with the corners cut out for good ventilation.  I had good success this way with cold weather macademia cuttings.  Sure I had to leave them 12 months before potting on, but they're now 3 m high.

Pip

[Bizzi Lizzi]

Don't you get any baby plants growing from dropped berries?  We are always getting tiny holly's growing from the berries in next door's garden.

don't know if we have any at the moment, but if you like I can have a look and could send you one or 2 if I have?

Never had any babies from the bush.  It's not hugh at all though.  Sending me some would be absolutely fantastic!!!  The more holly the better.

It would be cruel and not true to say that the year hubby had the snip the berries dropped off but I couldn't resist!

[Bizzi Lizzi]

Will try anything Pip including this advice thank you.

[Pip Judgeford]

I'm curious, what are you going to do with [hopefully] lots of holly?

Pip

[Bizzi Lizzi]

Grow a hedge!!

[Aunt Sally]

Did you read the RHS link I gave you BL ?

[Bizzi Lizzi]

Did you read the RHS link I gave you BL ?

Not yet, will be investigating this afternoon after emptying my planters.  It sounds a brilliant link.

[GrannieAnnie]

I'll have a look today and see what we've got and let you know BL  then PM me your addy and I'll send you a couple!

[Bizzi Lizzi]

Thank you so much!