Native Plant
Propagation
Are
you planning a restoration project?
Would
you like to acquire plants at no or a very low cost?
Do
you know of a construction project that will bulldoze native vegetation?
There are many native plants
that can be salvaged. The smaller the plant the more easily it will
successfully salvage. Salvageable plants include ferns (all times of the year),
trees less than 5 ft. tall, (deciduous
trees in fall after leaves drop. Conifers are best moved in early fall
after rains start or early winter), shrubs under 5 ft. (if deciduous, best
moved in fall or winter).
Note
that salvaged plants will need be stored or
transplanted immediately and will have to be watered during summers for at
least 2 years. Larger trees may need 3 years of watering. Water deeply every other week. The soil should dry out
a little between watering. You want to develop
deep root growth.
If you know of a construction site that
you can salvage plants from but your restoration project is sometime in the
future, or you have limited space, you may want to salvage by collecting seeds,
stakes, or other propagation methods.
Make sure the plants are native. Salvage from sites
that are similar to your restoration site, preferably in the same watershed.
Check for similar elevation, sunlight (if they have partial sun and if they are
in sunlight only a portion of the day) soils, hydrology, and plant communities
that you want in your restoration site.
Quotes from
volunteers who were involved in King County
"I
like the idea of using native plants to do what nature intended. Salvaging is
almost free, in these days of government waste, it is a novel idea."
"I
like salvage program's use of native plants to improve our streams, water
quality and fish habitat...it improves the overall environment."
Washington
Salvage Operations
Conduct salvage projects only in sites that are scheduled
for imminent destruction and only in conjunction with appropriate agencies or
conservation organizations, in order to ensure that all avenues to provide
protection to the site have been pursued. If the site is public land,
maintaining contact will also ensure that necessary permits and documentation
are obtained. If the site is private land, obtain prior permission of the
landowner. Collect only from those portions of the site which will not remain
natural. Use salvaged plants only for such purposes as relocation, public
education, botanical research or documentation, or as propagation stock, and
not to sell to the public.
In the event that a rare plant occurs within an area facing
destruction, contact the Washington Natural Heritage Program. If a population
is no longer going to be in existence, this information should be entered into
their database. Voucher specimens from the site may also be desirable; contact
the WNHP and/or herbaria regarding this matter. To the extent possible, the
fate of the rescued plants should be documented. Rare plants should be
relocated only under the guidance of a plan which has been reviewed and
approved by appropriate agencies and individuals.
http://tardigrade.org/natives/plantcollect.html
www.highline.edu/stuserv/
childcare/images/New...
Development Sites Check with local city and county
planning departments. They should records of who has applied for building and
other permits. In proposed large projects some planning departments conduct
regular reviews of large within their area. The information is public.
Talk
to your local planning departments to find out what applications must be filed
and what permits issued before development can occur. Tell them about your
interest in salvaging plants, this may help. Ask to see the applications. Get the contact information of the person seeking the
permit. Call the landowners and tell them about your plan to salvage plants.
Never go on the property until you receive permission from the right people. If
the landowner will let you salvage then you can find out exactly where on the
site they are removing the vegetation. If a contractor is already involved, you
may also need to talk to them and coordinate your activity so you don't place
yourself at risk or interfere with their work.
www.lomo-expedition.de/ CHN_Badalin_2003_09_27...
Road-widening
Projects
Salvaging plants from road
widening projects isn’t as preferred as the development sites since there are
many invasive plants that may be establish themselves on the roadside. You can
find out about road widening projects from the city and county roads
departments, and the state Department of Transportation. You will need to get
permission to salvage, usually from the contractor doing the work or from the
agency planning the widening.
Note: Do not salvage from projected clear cutting
sites most native plants can survive timber harvesting, and collecting plants
from the site will reduce the number of plants available to revegetate
the area after the cut.
www.rhs.org.uk/advice/ profiles0900/seeds.asp www.actionvideo.freeserve.co.uk/ seed1.htm www.thisoldhouse.com/.../ 0,16417,471583,00.html
Collecting seeds:
Seed collection on a construction site would be ideal if you have a future restoration project and you have limited storage space, also if you need a large number of seedlings for planting.
Collect seeds when they are mature – seeds are ripe when they have turned dark and hard, berries are ripe when they turn their ripe color. Most seeds begin to ripen in early summer and can be harvested in the fall. To ensure genetic diversity, if possible, collect seeds from different plants that are spread 100 feet or more from each other.
Put the seeds in paper bags, to aid in drying, and write the species and date on the bag.
Extract, dry, and store the seeds in a labeled, airtight container, in a cool, dry place.
|
Several
types of hardwood cuttings made from a narrow-leaved evergreen plant—cuttings
also might be made from very long side shoots. |
Several
types of hardwood cuttings made from a deciduous plant. |
cru.cahe.wsu.edu/.../
pnw0152/pnw0152.html
www.borough.kenai.ak.us/.
../bankphotos.htm
Hardwood Cuttings and Live Stakes:
Cuttings from deciduous plants can be taken in the fall as soon as the plant has dropped its leaves. Wait until early winter to take cuttings from needle or broadleaf evergreens. Select the young, straight shoots growing up from the center of the plant or from near the ground. They should be the diameter of a pencil and long to cut in smaller pieces later.
Label with a tie around the bunch identifying species.
Store cuttings in a plastic container or bag. Keep them cool, moist, and out of direct sunlight. Avoid freezing.
www.gardenswest.com/.../
root_cut_horiz21.jpg
Root
Cuttings
When cut and replanted a root
cutting is will produce an entirely new plant. The best time to collect root
cuttings is during the dormant season (late fall through winter). Look for
roots that are ¼ - ½ inch in diameter. Each cutting should be long enough to
have at least four buds (they will look like small bumps, or may actually have
rootlets growing from them).
Root cuttings grow best in warm soil, so if you collect them during the winter bury them in moist sand and keep them at 40 degrees F until spring.
Label.
bioenergy.ornl.gov/.../
rhizome-med.jpg bioenergy.ornl.gov/.../
rhizome-med.jpg
www.sbs.utexas.edu/.../ pics/poa/arundo_donax.htm
zoneten.com/_borders/ rhizome_8.JPG
Rhizome
Cuttings
Rhizomes
can be used to propagate plants in a manner similar to root cuttings. Rhizome
cuttings are best taken during the dormant season (late fall through winter).
Dig around the plant to locate the rhizomes. They will be white or pale, and
smooth with buds and visible roots. Dig the segment up. Then cut the rhizome
into sections that are at least three inches in length, making sure each
section has at least two buds.
Immediately
plant the rhizome sections horizontally in pots, flats.
Label
pots.
www.rhs.org.uk/.../ images/division.jpg
www.thegardenhelper.com/ grass9.JPG
www.burkesbackyard.com.au/
2000/__data/page/15
Dividing Plants
Propagation
by division involves digging up a plant and dividing the plant into two or more
pieces by splitting its crown and root ball. Dividing should be done when the
plants are dormant (late fall through winter).
Dig
the entire plant up, and then carefully divide the crown and root ball into two
equal parts with your hands or a sharp spade or knife (if the root ball is
particularly large, you may be able to divide it into more parts).
Replant
each division in pots.
Label
pots.
www.ppdl.purdue.edu/.../ contortedfilbert2.jpg
web.odu.edu/.../files/
B0237.jpg/$FILE/B0237.jpg
Transplanting Suckers
If they have adequate roots, the suckers can be dug up. Dig up enough root to separate the plants. With a sharp shovel or pruners, sever the root connecting the sucker to the parent plant. Be sure the sucker has enough roots to survive on its own.
Keep the sucker's roots encased in their soil, and keep the roots moist until replanted.
Great sources of information!
http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/PI/salopps.htm
Plant Native
http://www.plantnative.org/cs_watowy.htm
Karen Suyama