Propagation - Easy Stool Layering Technique

www.edibleacres.org
This is a beginner introduction to the concept of stool layering. This is a technique for making clonal copies of existing plants by banking soil/sawdust/potting mix/etc. around the stem for an extended period of time so that the plant is stimulated into putting roots into it. I'd encourage you to search for 'stool layering' or 'mound layering' for more details

[@patriciakeys4873]

I've never heard of this method! I'm retired on a fixed income and need every trick in the bag to increase my plants without going to the nursery. Thank you!

[@edibleacres]

So many nice tricks we can use for easy plant copies!

[@saintisidorehomestead]

Very useful, as always. Especially as a part 2 of your hardwood propagation system. Thanks for your work. You have inspired us to aggressively start multiplying our perennials.

[@edibleacres]

Thats what I like to hear! Aggressive multiplication!

[@rdkitchengarden4359]

Interesting technique. Have a wonderful day

[@ethanpatterson5682]

I love your videos. Keep it going.

[@sleeplessinthecarolinas8118]

Great idea! I am going to try this with my Zamioculcas zamifolia (ZZ) house plant.

[@jameswoll]

Advanced Techniques - Level 1: "Throwing shovel-fuls of dirt at your plants." Cool! Gotta love gardening... the littlest things, man. Droppin' so much knowledge. Got so much knowledge he can't even hold it anymore. He's doppin' it. Droppin' hard like my leggy lettuce sprouts.

[@edibleacres]

I should do a video on pushing twigs in the ground and throwing seeds at a pile. Keep your eyes out for the exciting adventures of 'I wonder what this'll do!' with edibleacres! :)

[@andrewyek]

hii i tried this method, however the rooting of it is way way longer than air layering.. i wonder why.. should i also gird the branch beneath soil level so enable it to send forth root faster ? ? thanks andrew

[@MrChickadee]

Any idea if this would work for osage orange?

[@edibleacres]

I don't know, but maybe worth a try. Osage is pretty easy from winter stratified seed so that is my go-to method.

[@katday1335]

Great info! I have been looking for the best way to propagate my rose of Sharon shrubs. Have you tried this with any kind of hibiscus? It seems like it might be easier than most other techniques, especially for how many I need to finish a long hedge.

[@edibleacres]

I would encourage you to try, perhaps just on one or two this season, and see what happens. Almost certainly it won't hurt them, and if it doesn't root into it it should still be helpful for the plant. It really is mainly grafted trees you don't want to play this game, otherwise, I'd personally feel comfortable trying it a little on just about everything! :)

[@akivasilver-twistedtreefar3930]

Do you think its okay to do this while shrubs are leafed out in the middle of growing season? I started doing a lot more of this lately

[@edibleacres]

Yeah, I do it whenever I get a chance, or have old potted plants that died, etc., or have some nice mix available. Seems like you can just keep doing it whenever and then see what works or doesn't in the fall!

[@virginiagraham2196]

Think this would work for autumn olive? Thanks for sharing your passion and knowledge.

[@edibleacres]

I feel its promising. I have a number of autumn olives I've stool layered to see how it will work. Check back in come April and I'll let ya know!

[@raczjozsef6941]

I am huge fan of tilia cordana (not sure what you call that in us english lime tree or linden) and noticed that some old trees have tonnes of new shoot around their base I tried to separate them but couldn't get them off with any roots. Do you think stool layering would work there? Is it normally a whole growing season that you keep adding before diggin in there for the rooted babies? Thanks for sharing this btw, I only used this method for apple rootstock propagating so far so this video was an eye opener.

[@edibleacres]

I haven't tried it with tilia but I suspect that is a reasonable idea... If you were to stool around a few nice shoots in the spring or fall and waited one year, you could poke around and see, I would be surprised if they didn't root!

[@familyfruit9833]

I've been struggling to propagate a broom (cytisus), a named variety. I've repeatedly failing with cuttings, which is what I read is recommended, despite trying many different ways. Now considering trying this layering technique yet. Wish me luck!

[@edibleacres]

Best of luck to you!

[@zb3948]

@EdibleAcres It's now early June (zone 6a) and I've missed my early-spring opportunity to mound soil on some of my shrubs. When in fall would you recommend I start mounding the soil around them. Thank you.

[@edibleacres]

I think it is reasonable to actually start the hilling process now to see if you can help them develop roots by fall.

[@taraligon8201]

​@@edibleacreswould stooling the stems right after harvest (just picked my red currants this week) be too late, or any way dangerous for my plants? TIA!

[@matthewlebon1556]

So awesome ! Have you tried this with nankings or goumi?

[@edibleacres]

Yes, with both. I have had goumi root from stooling although VERY slowly (leave it for 2 years) and Nanking seems promising as I trial it this year. Both would be a longer term project and one you'd want to check before you plan to dig/cut stems.

[@matthewlebon1556]

@@edibleacres thanks so much for the reply!

[@tamigreever6852]

I'm going to try figs, blackberries, blueberries and gooseberries! All these plants enjoy moisture, and I don't think there will be an issue with root rot.

[@dfricke1010]

How’d the blueberries turn out?

[@Tinaejs]

Really interested where you get your elderberries?

[@edibleacres]

Ordered some online, found some locally. They are available for sure!

[@kerem7546]

seems like this could work with sumac. have you given it a try?

[@edibleacres]

It may, although Sumac LOVES to propagate through root runners. If you wanted tons of plants I wonder if digging up around a given sumac and finding roots to pot up or plant out fragments of would get you lots more plants?

[@24bidy]

can I root elderberry's ,sea buckthorn, Mulberry, From hard wood cuttings ? Please let me know Thanks

[@edibleacres]

Yes, kind of, kind of! Elderberry is incredibly easy, very worth doing. Seabuckthorn needs rooting hormone and the timing needs to be right, so they are tricky. Mulberry I've had near 0 success... But I'm a novice! :)

[@josephlarsen]

will this work with serviceberry bushes?

[@edibleacres]

To some extent... They will sucker on their own, and this method will help promote that within reason. I'd encourage trying a light side dressing of loose compost around and against the stems, but not so thick as to reduce the new shoots ability to pop up. Maybe it's a mid-season treatment for them...

[@kirstenwhitworth8079]

Would this wook on hazel?

[@edibleacres]

Yes, but with some modifcation. Google 'hazel stool beds' and see what you can learn.

[@projectmalus]

I wonder where that term 'stooling' came from? Is it because it looks like an upside down stool with its legs in the air?

[@edibleacres]

It could be. Never thought of that!

[@davidsimpson2635]

Who knew!? Thanks

[@michaelcarey1040]

Think I'll try this with straw

[@edibleacres]

If it is old / aged straw that could work.

[@raczjozsef6941]

@@edibleacres I have access to huge pile of horse manure. but its all fresh stuff - at least the top 2metres. You think that could work (a slower breakdown/rooting process)?

[@kingpermacultureandtheplan7292]

Will apple work for this?

[@edibleacres]

Some types could. Worth trying here or there I think.

[@growerprepper2610]

how many acres do you grow on.

[@edibleacres]

6 for the main nursery, .6 where my wife and I live, .3 where I have a certified organic field to work in, and .1 where some folks let me use the margin of their field.... Wshew!

[@growerprepper2610]

EdibleAcres that's amazing. I only have a small half acre. lands so costly. i was considering flip farming on my friends property as well.

[@growerprepper2610]

EdibleAcres also this concept was amazing. I will rewatch to get a better understanding

[@donnasouthwood]

Can you do this with blueberries?

[@edibleacres]

I would think it can't hurt to try. Maybe try on just a few and see what happens after a year... Worst case is you don't get additional roots and the blueberry is happy to be left alone with its pile of additional soil. I'd suspect, however, that it would root into it, maybe slowly but that it would... If you try please share notes on how it works!

[@donnasouthwood]

Thanks, I'll do that!

[@rachelrolseth]

@@donnasouthwood Did you ever try this? How did it work out?

[@donnasouthwood]

@@rachelrolseth No, I haven't tried it yet.

[@OlafGodredsson]

I layer my stool also and make sculptures out of it