Gardening tips for July: Layer pinks

The pink has been a feature of British gardens for centuries, and continues to provide floral beauty in abundance without fuss. It can be easily propagated at this time of year by layering. Take a non-flowering shoot and tease it gently out straight. With care, make a knife cut in the shoot and open it up. Ruffle up the soil and work the cut shoot into it, pinning it down with a length of wire bent like a hairpin. Water and wait. In time, the cut tissue will form roots, and you can separate the new plant from its mother.

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