It’s always nice to get something for free and even better when you’ve made it yourself. Here at Uppark we’ve been boosting our stocks of Sedum Autumn Joy and Penstemon Just Jayne by propagation. This provides a free supply of plants which will be putting on a show of pink flowers right through into November.

Sedum and Penstemon are two plant species which are happy to be multiplied by propagation. Simply cut a short stem off a well-established plant, put it in some compost and give it water and light. It’s best to keep cuttings such as this in a glasshouse but if you don’t have one, cover each of your pots with a clear plastic bag. Use short sticks to prevent the bag from touching the cuttings and secure the bag with a rubber band around the pot.

Take Sedum cuttings below a leaf node (where the leaves emerge), keep the cuttings short (about 5-7cm), and put them into some seed and cuttings compost. Make sure the pot is filled to the top with compost and gently firm. Create holes in the compost around the edge of the pot using a twig (or “dibber”), and place each cutting in to a hole. If your cuttings are flowering at the tip, pinch the blooms out to promote vegetative growth (leafy rather than flowery). Do the Penstemon cuttings in the same way, making them a little longer, and snip any large leaves in half to reduce water loss through evaporation.

In the early stages, some cuttings may fail, but don’t be disheartened. Celebrate your successes, no matter how big or small, and keep going.

This year, I used our batch of Sedum and Penstemon in a border outside the entrance to Uppark House and was pleased to receive an unexpected email from our House Steward, Shirley: “I’ve been meaning to say how much myself and the volunteers have been admiring the planting in the turning circle this year. The pink scheme works amazingly well and gives the greens of the trees and planting an extra buzz; an inspired choice of planting.” Not bad for some free plants.

Uppark is open until October 31, so do come and enjoy its autumn colour and spectacular views. The house and gardens are also open on selected dates in November and December.

  • Visit Andy Lewis’s blog at upparkgarden.wordpress.com
  • Uppark House and Garden, South Harting, Petersfield, West Sussex, GU31 5QR, Tel: 01730 825415, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/uppark
  • House, garden, shop and restaurant open every day except Fri and Sat from Mar 17 to Dec 22 (excluding Nov 4 to 16)