When are the best times for taking softwood, hardwood and root cuttings, or layering

Or does it depend on species/time of year?

 

What plant(s) are you looking to do it with? It does depend on each plant and which are suitable for it.

Try a search on the RHS website - I just did it and what you are looking for is described well there, and how to do it.

 

Its kind of self explanatory if you think about it.

Softwood cuttings need to be taken during the growing season, hardwood cuttings winter, layering can start at almost any time of the year as it can be a longish process, and root cuttings is mainly a winter thing.

Semiripe cuttings which is good for a lot of shrubs is usual around Aug/sept.