Rosemary is a kitchen garden favourite – tough, evergreen, aromatic, and brilliant for cooking. But did you know you can make more rosemary for free in just a few minutes? Taking cuttings now means new plants ready to grow before winter.
Why Take Rosemary Cuttings in August?
Late summer is a sweet spot. Rosemary is still actively growing, but the soft tips have begun to firm up – perfect for semi-ripe cuttings.
Taking cuttings now gives your new plants time to root before the colder months arrive. You’ll get stronger, healthier plants compared to trying in spring or autumn, and it’s a great way to refresh older, woody rosemary bushes.
Whether you're expanding your herb garden, gifting a plant, or just love propagating, this is a rewarding 5-minute job.
What You’ll Need
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✂️ Sharp scissors or secateurs
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🌱 A healthy rosemary plant (no flowers or signs of stress)
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🪴 Small pots or trays
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🧱 Free-draining compost or a 50:50 mix of compost and perlite/grit
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🌿 Optional: hormone rooting powder
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A warm, bright but shaded place to keep them
How to Take Rosemary Cuttings
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Choose a non-flowering stem
Look for firm but still flexible stems around 10–12cm long.
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Snip just below a leaf node
This is where roots are most likely to form.
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Strip the lower leaves
Remove the bottom half of the leaves from the cutting to reduce moisture loss.
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Optional: Dip in rooting hormone
Rosemary often roots without it, but it can speed things up.
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Insert into compost
Use a pencil or dibber to make a hole, pop in your cutting, and firm it gently.
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Water lightly
Keep the compost just moist – not soggy.
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Cover or not?
Rosemary likes airflow, so a plastic cover is optional. If you use one, vent it daily to prevent rot.
Aftercare Tips
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Keep somewhere warm and bright but out of direct sun
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Mist lightly if the air is dry
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Check regularly for root growth (you'll see new shoots or resistance when tugged gently)
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After 6–8 weeks, pot on individually once well rooted
Why It’s Worth Doing
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🌱 Grow new plants for free
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🪴 Keeps your rosemary stock fresh and productive
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🎁 Great for gifting or companion planting
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🍃 Better control over young plant health
A five-minute task now gives you a whole tray of rosemary plants for next year. What’s not to love?
