How to root layers of berry bushes?

The most popular and favorite berry crops of gardeners in central Russia - red, black, white currants and all varieties of gooseberries, can be easily propagated by layering. You need to plan this work at the very beginning of the gardening season. Reproduction of layering of berry bushes is quite within the power of even not too experienced beginners. This technique is based on the ability of many plants to form roots from adventitious buds. Honeysuckle layering can be made from berries, and currants and gooseberries take root especially remarkably. For the cultivation of cuttings, it is recommended to choose completely healthy bushes of the best varieties, which consistently give a good harvest.

Experienced gardeners use three main types of cuttings - horizontal, vertical and arcuate.

Vertical layering

To receive vertical select a special uterine bush. In early spring, when stable warm weather sets in, cut off all existing shoots at a height of 10–20 cm. Young shoots growing from awakened buds should be spud two to four times per season so that their lower part is covered with soil. In the spring of next year, you can separate the rooted shoots and plant them in a permanent place.

Horizontal layering of berry bushes

They are obtained by bending and rooting only individual shoots. To obtain fresh young bushes, it is necessary to press the branches of the mother bush to the ground. It is worth choosing a few good lower shoots, which will be convenient to bend. Then you need to dig out shallow (about 10 cm) grooves, focusing on the length of the shoots. It is necessary to spread them out and pin them to the ground with wooden or metal studs. Alternatively, for reliability, you can gently press down the elastic branches with a small stone. During the summer, new shoots will appear from the awakened buds. With prolonged dry weather, it is necessary to water in the places of future rooting. These branches will form a root system sufficient for transplantation. In the fall or next spring, they can be separated from the mother bush by simply chopping off the mother branch with a pruner or shovel at a distance of 7-10 cm from the young bush.

Arcuate layering of berry bushes

They are obtained when not the entire shoot is placed in the grooves, but only its middle part. In this case, it is recommended to set the top of the shoot vertically. To do this, a wooden or plastic peg is driven in next to it and the branch is carefully tied up with twine or a piece of cloth.

Throughout the summer season, layers obtained by any of the above methods must be watered. Gently loosening the soil around future new bushes will help the air circulate freely and saturate the soil with oxygen. Top dressing with complex mineral or organo-mineral fertilizers is carried out according to the schedule and according to the manufacturer's instructions. Growth stimulants can be used to improve root formation, although this is usually not required, since all varieties of currants, gooseberries and honeysuckle reproduce well in this way, subject to all the basic rules.