Transplanting and layering Heathe (Calluna vulgaris)

SimonZ · Feb 24, 2010

Heather is what I meant, not "Heathe."

Should I wait until all frost has passed?

Does it need acid soil?

Hartley Botanic · Feb 24, 2010

I would say yes, wait. And heathers thrive on acid soil

Marley Farley · Feb 24, 2010

Yes it will need acidic soil this is what the Heather society say..

A compost into which rooting can take place can be prepared from 3 parts sphagnum moss peat (do NOT use sedge peat as this can often have a high pH) and one part of horticultural perlite. An acid gritty sand can be used instead of perlite where available but it must be acid. This applies even for the propagation of heathers which would normally grow in any soil, as an acid medium will improve the rooting yield. There is no need to add fertiliser at this stage, in fact, the yield is likely to be higher if none is added.
If horticultural perlite is being used add water to the perlite as instructed by the manufacturer, otherwise for easy mixing and subsequent handling, there is no need to add extra water at this stage.
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This is the simplest and most reliable method for the gardener who wants just a few plants of a particular variety.

Select a branch or number of branches on the outside of the plant.
Make a shallow trench with a trowel into which the selected branch can be drawn.
Fill the trench with a mixture of sphagnum moss peat and grit sand.
Draw the selected branch down into the trench, taking care not to break it.
Peg it down firmly with a wire hook about 15cm (6 in) long, making sure that the tip of the branch is turned upwards.
Cover the branch with the peat/sand mixture and mound up around the now upright tip.
Water well.

A layer can be made at any time of year. Nine to ten months later a root system will have formed at the bend in the stem where it was pegged, and the new plantlet can then be severed from its parent and planted in its final growing position. Several such layers can be made around the plant without affecting its appearance.
A development of this technique is to dig the plant up, make the hole considerably deeper and re-plant so that only the growing tips show above the soil. These will produce new roots and can be severed from the old plant after about 6 months.
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Not tried this myself so hope this is of some help.. :thumb:

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Transplanting and layering Heathe (Calluna vulgaris)

SimonZ Gardener

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Transplanting and layering Heathe (Calluna vulgaris)

SimonZ Gardener

Hartley Botanic Gardener

Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

Wisteria - transplanting from pot to the ground

Viburnum suffering after transplanting

Transplanting Hydrangea Annabelle

Transplanting Crocosmia Lucifer

Turf transplanting advice required.

Share This Page

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