Lush and Low Cost: Salvage Garden from Cuttings and Divisions

Fred and Kit Fulton near Waldport, Oregon, planted a slope using only cuttings, seedlings, and divisions—cost next to nothing. “We call it our salvage garden.” Palette includes daylilies, hardy fuchsias, heather, santolina, lavender, rosemary, sage, plus canna, hydrangeas, roses.

Three Propagation Methods

• USE CUTTINGS. Kit prunes fuchsias, dips stem ends in rooting hormone, pots in potting mix, keeps humid in greenhouse or on windowsill.
• PLANT SEEDLINGS. Let plants self-sow; lift seedlings with two true leaves and replant. Successes: Verbena bonariensis, lady’s-mantle, Scotch heather.
• DIVIDE CLUMPS. Dig 6-12 inches beyond overgrown clumps (canna, daylily, New Zealand flax, Siberian iris). Tease or cut apart; replant divisions.