Horticulture Principles and Practices

Buried part of shoot
is nicked
FIGURE 10–28
Simple layering.
New shoot is detached
and replanted
Serpentine lay-
FIGURE 10–29
ering.
Shoot is anchored and
buried at selected parts
After rooting
and development of
new shoot, loops are
severed to produce
individual plants
Shoot bent
into a trench
FIGURE 10–30
Trench layering.
Shoot nicked at
several places prior
to burying in trench
New shoots sprout
from nicked points
New shoots are
detached for individual
replanting
Mound Layering
Mound layering is also called stool layering. It is accomplished by first cutting back the
mother plant close to the ground, most often in late winter. This pruning causes new
shoots to grow in spring. At the onset of new growth, soil is heaped around the base of
these shoots to form a stool bed (Figure 10–31). The size of the mound is increased as
the shoots grow bigger. It is critical to keep the mound of soil moist continually. Roots
will develop from the base of these shoots. The individual shoots are harvested by removing
the soil and cutting them off from the mother stump for replanting. Species such as
rose, apple, and currant are commonly propagated by this method.
10.13 Types of Layering 333