If you love planting new young trees but aren’t willing to spend a lot of money, why not grow trees from twigs instead? Aside from saving a couple of bucks, you’ll also able to witness your trees grow bigger and prettier. This method is definitely practical and fulfilling as well. You should definitely try this method on your homestead!
Grow Trees From Twigs | A Step-by-Step Guide
What you’ll need to grow trees from twigs:
- tree branch
- plastic bottle
- knife
- hammer
- time
Step 1: Prepare the branch
Take your tree branch and pull off all the leaves. Chop off all the buds and smaller branches using a knife and hammer. Take the knife and place it on the branch you want to chop off making sure it’s straight. Then, carefully hit the knife with the hammer so the branch gets cut off.
Step 2: Chop off the branch
Now chop the branch into 20-40 cm long pieces of twigs. Make sure these chopped pieces of twigs can fit inside a plastic bottle.
Step 3: Place the chopped branches inside a plastic bottle
Place the branches in the plastic bottle filled with 5 cm of water. Now close the cap and you’re done! Make sure to screw the cap off and on once in a while to let in new air.
Tip: You may add a bit of root booster to the water as it may help the roots to grow faster.
Step 4: Transfer the branch to the ground
After 2 weeks, you may notice fluffy texture or little beads appearing on the branch. It means it’s time to place the branch in a good soil and water it like you would water any plant.
Old Man Next Door’s Method
Before I even knew this method of turning cuttings into a tree, I had my eyes on my neighbor’s golden plum tree. Oh boy, did I like it!
I always asked the old man next door if I could rip a few plums from his tree to snack on. He, of course, always answered with a yes. I loved his golden plums so much, I snacked on them every day. One day, I knocked on his door to ask for some golden plums. He again let me, but also told me a little tip: “You ain’t gonna pick these sweets all your life from this tree. So, snip off a branch and let me show you how to grow your own tree.” All excited, I agreed! Free tree and free plums without having to ask before I pick them!
He showed me this method and to my surprise, it worked. I was happily picking plums off my own golden plum tree! It took a few years to get to the fruit-bearing stage but it was worth it!
As I mentioned before, this is a great way to plant a tree you like, without having to pay for it.
Want to see how to root plants from cuttings? Watch this video by Mikes BackyardNursery:
I’ve always love trees: growing, planting, and pruning them. While it isn’t possible to plant oak or walnut trees in my yard as I’d like, I resort to planting smaller trees using twigs or stem cuttings. This has been my yearly custom now. You can also share these guide and few tips to your friends and relatives so they can also grow their own trees on their homestead!
What do you think of this tree planting method? Do you think you’ll try to grow trees from twigs? Let us know and share your experience in the comments section below.
Up Next: Homesteader’s Guide to Soil Improvement
Editor’s Note – This post was originally published on April 2, 2017 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
Cool. I wonder if this works with bamboo.
Be careful with Bamboo, the stuff is a weed. It uses runner to propagate and it’s hard to contain.
This looks Great I have grafted several apple trees in the past but I don’t have great secses. Will this type of propagation grow to be the same tree as the tree that it came from?
Oh yes, bamboo is happy to comply
Excelente. Parabéns!!!
A better way of staring trees, bushes and even reviving the ones you have planted and are dying is to use a can of whipped cream, not cool whip but real whipped cream. Just cut your twigs then cover the base of the twigs with whipped cream and plant as stated above or directly in the ground. They will grow roots and become a viable tree or bush. I had also planted a couple of blueberry bushes and when the leaves started turning brown and were dying I dug them up and covered the roots with whipped cream and replanted them. They came back beautiful and revitalized.
Also if you are having trouble getting grass to grow, just wait until winter and as you start to get the first dusting of snow start broadcasting your grass seed. You have to be ready because you have to catch the snow as soon as it begins because it won’t work if you cast it out onto deeper snow. When it becomes spring you’ll have gorgeous grass. This really works, I learned these methods from my father in-law.
Any idea why this works? Whipped cream is just cream, nothing magical. I’m definitely going to try it. Thanks.
my husband used to find little trees starting to grow in sidewalk cracks , and also rooted branches in coffee cans and when we moved to a new house most of the trees we had were from twigs and branches and they grew up into big trees . we had fruit trees, and regular trees .of all kinds . he is gone now but a lot of the trees are still flowering and producing fruit . or have turned into huge shade trees .
Great i will be definitely trying this
Thanks for the info
I’ve done grapes this was. I brought home a trunk full of pruning from a California vineyard. I trimed and took off leaves. Used an old bathtub with sand from a nearby dry Arroyo. I started about 1 out of every 3. I didn’t have a rooting product to work with or it may have had a better success rate. Still it was a good start. 35 years later they still produce a heavy crop each fall. They are on a rebar arbor I assembled by welding pieces together to make a structure with one climbing side and long and wide enough to have a table sitting under the long tunnel it formed. Its near my bbq. Wonderful shade in summer and fragrant with grapes hanging above us in fall.
Omg I learn so much today. Thank you for all the great advice..
Great idea. Will definitely try. Thanks for the information.ttT
I plan to try your method for a pear tree.How long before it begins to bear fruit?
Three to five years, from what I read. That isn’t long!
Came upon your post and was reminded of my childhood on Long Island many decades ago. I was always drawn to the outside and I can remember going into the woods and picking up anything I thought interesting and bring it home to plant. My yard became filled with all sorts of specimens that I had collected from my forays into the woods. My Mom always had me at the doctor’s because I would always develop rashes. This lasted until I was banned from the woods and of course I got older with other interests. When my family and I moved South to some property still pretty much wooded I picked up my old habits but was a little more cautious. I plan to use your methods to try and grow new plants from my hydrangea bush for my daughter.
best video I have seen on cuttings in a long time well done.
how long do you leave the twigs in the bottle?
:Plant in the ground when the twig develops good roots.
In what season should we try this? Spring or fall? And what kind of twigs will work, hardwood or softwood? Thank you.
I think the question is, “How long should we expect it to take for the twigs to develop good roots?” a month? 3 months? a week?
wow, so much useful information. i will definitely try this. Do you think this method would work with rose stems?
It should. To propagate my wild rose that I dug up beside a railroad track, I just cut off pieces, dip them in rooting powder, and stick them into a pot and cover them for a while to keep moisture in.
Anxious to try this method.
Thank you.
Have you tried it yet? How did it work?