Monty Don has identified one essential job for gardeners this August: taking cuttings. The gardening expert says this step is the key task that will help your garden thrive come summer 2027.
August is one of the most crucial months in a gardener's diary, setting the stage not just for autumn but for the summer ahead. Monty Don's to-do list for this month includes trimming hedges and tackling long grass, but taking cuttings is the job that gives gardeners a real head start.
How to take cuttings in August
As summer draws to a close, August presents the ideal window for taking cuttings. This involves snipping off a small section of plant – be it a stem, leaf or root – from your healthiest specimens already flourishing in the garden. While this might sound counterintuitive for encouraging growth, what you do with these cuttings afterwards really matters for your plants' future success.
Monty explains: "As August progresses, semi-ripe cuttings taken from the current season's wood that has started to harden off are increasingly available and also increasingly likely to root quickly."
He recommends selecting robust and vigorous growth from any flowers or flower buds, and popping them into a polythene bag so they're ready for immediate potting. The next step involves removing all the lower leaves and any side shoots from the cutting so that less than an inch of foliage is left. For the best chance of success, make a clean cut with a sharp knife and plant it in a container filled with gritty compost or even pure perlite.
Care and rooting timeline
For robust root development, the plant will not need anything fancy – just the basics of oxygen and water will suffice. It is crucial that whatever container you are using has adequate drainage to prevent the plant from becoming parched.
Once the roots have established themselves, signs of new growth will emerge, and that is the cue to add nutrients and transfer the plant into superior, nutrient-rich compost. This process should carry through to late September or into October.
Regarding placement, the plant thrives in a warm spot with ample light, though direct sunlight should be avoided as it risks scorching the foliage. Regular watering is essential, keeping the soil moist while misting helps comfort the leaves and stops them from shrivelling before the root system has properly developed.
Given the current season, it takes approximately four to five weeks for dependable roots to emerge from cuttings. You will know the roots have taken hold when fresh shoots appear or when you peek underneath the pot and spot delicate roots poking through the drainage holes. Once that happens, the cuttings can be transferred into fresh compost and left to rest over winter, before resuming care and replanting come springtime.
Best time of day for cuttings
This straightforward method can save considerable effort and gives gardeners something to anticipate when the warmer months return. Although August is the optimum month for this task, taking cuttings is best done in the morning. At this time of day, the plant is at its most hydrated, though taking cuttings in the evening should not significantly compromise their quality.
