My part time neighbor used a potato to root a weeping willow branch and as far as I can tell he has been successful. Has anyone here tried that method with anything else? I'm considering using the same method only with the Thuja Green Giants. Yesterday I topped about a half dozen to help slow their upward growth and promote their outward growth as well as thickening. That's in cutting the main leader back. While in the process I got to thinking, why wouldn't that work with these. I'll be needing at least 30 more and using the central leader would surely give them a nice head start. Heck, I could almost put them in the spot where they will be growing so no stress from moving them. That is if they would grow. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Yes I have but it was on a commercial basis and not with a potato , I worked for a Nursery . First willows are easy as chit to root just stick them in H2O other woody plants will root just they need a little more help. The way we did it was to take cutting about 4 - 6 " in length dip them a rooting hormone place the end in a medium of 60 / 40 sand and peat mix and put under a mist system , to keep them moist that's the key . We did junipers, arb's rhodie's .... that's the Cliff Notes version . Potatoes I think will work , moist is the key too much you get disease , not enough no roots . Hope this helps
I'll have to give it a try then. I just hate to see all of those tops going to waste. That, plus I'm a cheap azz and figure then I wouldn't have to purchase at least 30 more! I just hope I don't end up with a crop of potato plants instead!
Go for it Girl and let me know how it works out and pic's please I'm very interested to see how it goes .
I don't know about the green giants but like will said I have hybrid willows that I cut branches off of and just stuck in water and they rooted like a champ.
How to Propagate Roses Using Potatoes This came up on Facebook awhile back and it might have some info you can use.
I googled Thuja Green Giants as I didn't know what they were. I have small ornamental cedars along our yard and the deer have trimmed back the lower three feet. Do the deer go after your Green Giants?
Of course and Pic's or it didn't happen. It won't be happening right away since the temperatures are still in the mid to upper 80's. But as long as I'll be experimenting, I might as well take a few cuttings and see if those will also root using a potato.
Thank you for the link! I'm sure it will give me enough additional information to help things along. I have around 80 of the Green Giants along two edges of my property. I put them in for a privacy screen due to their being fast growers, which really they are not. They tout them as being able to grow anywhere from 4 to 5 feet a year. If that were the case, mine should be anywhere from 24 to 30 feet in height which they are not. The best growers are just making it to 15 feet, but their average height is about 8 feet. They will eventually make a nice privacy fence, wind break, sound and dust barrier. I should mention I had originally purchased them when they were 12 to 18 inches in height from a local nursery. Anyhow, The green giants are not 100% deer proof, but maybe 90% though. In their younger stages, the deer were browsing them moderately, but not eating them to the ground. I tried all sorts of deterrents but honestly none of them really worked. Now that they have been in for going on 6 years the deer seem to have cut their browsing back, but I do still see some damage. I have several of the Green Giants that will more than likely have to be replaced because the damage has been extensive. One, not because it was eaten, but because a buck decided to rub it with it's antlers. Otherwise the rest seem to be doing well. A plus seems to be that once the Green Giants grow together, the deer avoid that area. They won't pass though them, as though they were a brick wall. They tend to rely heavily on sight and sound, both of which become limited in those areas. If you do decide to pick up some, I would suggest getting them where they have grown 3 to 4 feet or better in height. I'm guessing the flavor of the older branches is not all that appealing to deer, though if they are hungry enough, they will eat virtually anything.
I remember my mom telling me that my grandfather used to do this. Except I don't think he rooted them in the potato, he just put one in the hole. My great grandparents had a peach orchard, and I think that was a trick they used too. I just read a little on it, and it sounds like other people also do the same for the reasons will711 suggests.
