Preparation
Collect the following materials
- Pruning snips (or scissors)
- 1 white or clear plastic trash bag (drawstring a plus!)
- 2-3 sticks about a foot tall
- Dirt (dirt from the yard, bagged top soil, potting soil, peat moss / dirt mixture all work - some better than others)
- A container that drains
- Rooting powder (not mandatory, but helps)
- A spray bottle of water
- A shady spot in your yard
- a boxwood plant
Put dirt into your container. I had the best results using potting soil in seed starting trays. I had success with all dirt, but the plants were noticeably healthier and took more quickly in the dirt that was a mixture of peat moss and soil (professional potting soil mixture) But, I had success with all sorts of containers.
Timing
Take the cuttings in early spring to mid summer (late June through July in central Indiana)
Step 1
You'll want to start in the late spring through early summer when the plant is actively growing new, light green shoots like below bit after the new shoots have hardened a bit. This picture is from mid to late summer after it's been shaped several times. In the spring, these boxwood have a lot more new growth and is light green all over, covered in new sprouts.
Step 2
Take a cutting about 2 1/2" - 4 " long, and snip it in the light green area (new growth) - above the darker green, harder plant. (See below)
Step 3
Strip off all but the top set of leaves
Step 4
Dip the bottom inch into the rooting powder. This isn't mandatory, but it helps.