12 Common Herbs And Flowers You Should Propagate From Cuttings In August

August marks the end of the growing season for many plants, but there are still gardening tasks to do in August to prepare for the end of the year. As your annual plants are winding down, now is the perfect time to propagate them for the next season. While your perennials will live through the winter, August is an opportunity to expand your collection of rosemary, hydrangeas, or rhododendrons. Many propagated plants root quickly in warm soil, and cooler temperatures in just a few weeks mean some young plants won't be stressed by heat. Other plants should be moved indoors at the end of summer, but will be ready for transplanting come springtime.

Propagation is a method of reproducing plants from one parent plant. There are several techniques, but cutting is the most popular as it poses the least risk to the parent plant. Propagation creates new, semi-mature plants, meaning you won't need to wait for seeds to germinate. Propagation is also an excellent way to get new plants for practically no cost. This August, take advantage of the strong, healthy plants in your garden by propagating these 12 herbs and flowers.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a fragrant and versatile herb perfect for flavoring beef, poultry, and potatoes. To propagate rosemary, use clean, sharp scissors to clip non-flowering stems that are sturdy but still green, about 4 to 6 inches long. Strip the leaves at the lower 2 inches and place the cutting in a glass of filtered water or soil. If you use water, change it every 3 to 4 days, and if you use soil, keep it moist. In 2 to 4 weeks, your rosemary cuttings should sprout white roots, meaning they're ready to transplant to your garden. Rosemary can be grown as perennial in zones 8 through 10.

Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is an annual plant that naturally reseeds in late summer to early fall, so August is the perfect time to propagate to enjoy them next season. Simply cut 4 to 6 inch sections from healthy stems and plant in moist, well-draining potting soil. Place them where they'll receive indirect light. You can transplant cosmos cuttings in 2 to 3 weeks when roots begin to form. It's a good idea to get them accustomed to their new environment before transplanting by exposing them to the outdoors for a few hours a day.

More fresh basil (Ocimum) for pastas, pizzas, and pesto well into the winter months is a no-brainer. If you live in a climate that stays warm in the fall months, basil cuttings will do well for you. Cut stems 4 to 6 inches long and root them in a glass of filtered water or moist soil, placed in indirect sunlight. Once they take root in about 2 weeks, you can plant them in the ground if you live in a warmer climate. If winter temperatures hit 50 degrees or below, plan to keep them indoors until springtime.

Petunias, commonly planted as annuals, are actually tender perennials. While they'll survive year-round in warmer climates, in colder areas, they won't survive the first frost. If this is the case for your petunias, propagating can ensure you get to enjoy them next spring. Cuttings can be taken from green, sturdy stems and can be grown in water or soil. Petunia cuttings take 5 to 6 weeks to be ready for transplantation, so keep them indoors through the winter to enjoy vibrant flowers in your garden come springtime. Because they're cold-sensitive, they'll only grow as perennials in zones 10 through 11.

Sage (Salvia officinalis) is an aromatic, edible herb. It's grown both for flavoring in Mediterranean dishes and as an ornamental plant due to its whimsical purple buds. Sage can become woody over time, meaning its shoots no longer grow new leaves. Propagating sage in August before its stems mature and harden can ensure you always have fresh leaves for the kitchen. Clip 4-inch cuttings and place in filtered water or soil. In 4 to 6 weeks, they will be ready to transplant. While mature sage is cold hardy, young plants should be brought inside for the winter. Sage is hardy in zones 4 through 8.

For season after season of soothing scents, propagate the lavender (Lavandula) in your garden. Semi-ripe stems, easily found in late summer, have the highest chance of success, so August is an excellent time for propagation. Cut 4 to 6 inch long, green shoots from the outer part of the plant, and place them in gritty, well-draining potting soil. They will need partial to full sunlight. The cuttings will form new roots in 4 to 6 weeks. Afterward, you can transplant the new plant into a container and nurture it indoors over the winter. Lavender is cold-hardy in zones 5 through 9.

August's warmth helps geranium (Pelargonium) sprout new roots quickly. Geraniums can be propagated from root or stem cuttings. To propagate from stems, take a few cuttings that are 1 to 2 inches long. Remove any flowers and place the stems in soil to root. Geranium can be grown as a perennial in zones 10 and 11.

Propagating rhododendrons in late summer gives the cuttings time to sprout roots before the plant goes dormant come winter. Semi-hardwood stems — green shoots that are beginning to form woody tissue — have the best chance of success. Cut your stems 4 to 6 inches long and plant in moist potting mix 2 to 3 inches deep. Your cuttings should form roots in 6 to 12 weeks and be ready to be planted in your garden when the weather warms up. Rhododendrons are hardy in zones 4 through 8.

Another fragrant herb used in Mediterranean cooking, oregano (Origanum vulgare) can be propagated in late summer as long as there is still new growth present. To propagate, cut a 3 to 4 inch stem that has several nodes, or points from which leaves grow. Remove the lower leaves and place the cutting in a glass of water. Your new plant should form roots in 2 to 4 weeks, after which you can transplant it into soil. Young plants should be kept indoors over the winter. You can grow this herb as a perennial in zones 5 through 9.

It's not too late to expand your mint (Mentha spicata) patch this summer. While it's usually planted in spring, it can be planted and propagated through fall. Mint cuttings of 3 to 5 inches can be grown in moist, well-drained soil or a clear glass of water. Cut green, leafy stems from the parent plant, but remove the lower leaves before planting. Some mint species are invasive, so check locally before propagating and planting. Mint is hardy in zones 4 through 9.

Thyme (Thymus) is another herb that complements poultry and vegetables perfectly. To propagate from cuttings, clip 3 to 4 inch sections from green stems and remove the lower leaves. Then, plant each section into moist potting soil about 2 inches deep. Place the cutting in indirect sunlight. Keep the soil moist but be careful not to overwater. Your new plants should sprout roots in 2 to 3 weeks. At this point, you can transplant indoors or outdoors. Mature thyme should receive partial to full sun. Thyme is cold-hardy in zones 5 through 9.

Hydrangeas (Hydrangea), loved for their whimsical balls of flowers, propagate best when temperatures begin to cool down. If you're looking to expand your hydrangeas, you haven't missed the window at all. To easily propagate hydrangeas for a fuller garden, cut 5 to 6 inch sections from firm stems. Place them in potting soil at least 2 to 3 inches apart. When roots form in just a few weeks, you're ready to transplant them into your garden. These perennial flowers can be grown in zones 3 through 9.