Use branch cuttings to create living fences

Backgrounder

Branch cuttings from trees can be used to propagate trees quickly. By using branch cuttings you can establish a protective forest along the edges of rivers and lakes. You can also make living fences and establish green borders beside the highways to “green” the natural environment. Most branch cuttings are planted about 4 to 5 weeks before the rainy season. A good size for a cutting is about 2 metres long with a diameter of 3 to 5 centimetres. When planted, one third of the cutting should be below ground and two thirds should remain above the ground level.

In Nicaragua and other parts of Central America the following trees are commonly used for branch cuttings: Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium), spiny cedar (Bombacopsis quinatum), incense tree (Bursera simarouba), and species of Erythrina and Ficus.

Try using branch cuttings of trees that grow well in your region to make living fences and green borders.