Propagating Maple Trees

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Q: We have an old hard maple tree that I would like to propagate. We live in southwest Michigan. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

To propagate a maple, take a cutting about 8 cm (10 inches) long around July, when the new growth has begun to harden off but it not too woody, as it would be in late fall. Dip the end of the cutting in a rooting hormone compound, which will stimulate the cells to produce roots. Insert the cutting into sterilized seed soil 50/50 with perlite for good drainage. Keep the medium moist but not damp. Commercial propagators use bottom heat to stimulate root growth, but this is hard to simulate at home. Keep the cutting out of direct sunlight in a bright window. More details can be found here.