Learning how to propagate your own hydrangea will not only be gratifying as a gardener but save you quite a bit of money. Hydrangeas are the epitome of seashore landscape. They are low maintenance and high impact. Who can resist those big beautiful balls of blue that echo the color of the ocean and sway gracefully in the breeze?

Hydrangea macrophylla is the variety of choice and ease. It has been around for a hundred years. If you do not have a hydrangea growing in your garden, befriend a neighbor that does.

As winter is approaching, the best method to try now is called soil layering or root layering. You take a low laying outside branch on your hydrangea and bend it to touch the ground. Where it touches, you want to remove any leaves from at least two nodes (where the leaves grow). With a sharp knife, scratch or score the bottom of the branch between the two nodes. Dust on rooting hormone (optional). Dig a two inch deep trench and bury that section of branch. Weigh it down with a heavy rock or brick. Early next spring, cut the branch from the mother plant but leave the branch buried. In another month or so when new growth appears, dig it up carefully so as not to disturb the new roots and plant your new hydrangea in its new home. Water it well weekly until it is established.

The easiest method is to root hydrangea cuttings. That neighbor you befriended will provide you pruned branches if you ask. Using 6" lengths, strip the leaves from the bottom 4" or at least two nodes. Trim the remaining leaves in half. Dip the stems in rooting hormone and plant them where you want them to grow or in pots of sterile growing medium. Water well. Cover the stem with a plastic bottle or jar with the bottom removed making sure the leaves don't touch the sides. If the top of growing medium becomes dry, water thoroughly and let drain.

The hydrangea cuttings will cook in their mini greenhouses if the sun gets to them. Cover with a piece of cheesecloth or an old sheet. After several weeks there should be sufficient roots to remove the plastic covers. If pots were used, transplant them into the soil or larger pots of potting soil.

These two methods work well with many hydrangea varieties. If you are propagating hydrangeas for selling, make sure the mother plant variety does not carry a patent. The patent owner can and will sue you. Other than that, propagating hydrangeas will enhance your landscape with little effort and expense.