- 1). Till the selected planting area to a depth of 10 to 12 inches. Hybrid poplars prefer full sun and fertile, well-drained, slightly alkaline soils, such as medium-textured sandy or loamy soil. If grasses or weeds are growing in the planting area, apply a herbicide two weeks prior to planting. Weeds and grass will compete with the cutting for soil nutrients and moisture. Work organic matter, such as compost or manure, into the soil.
- 2). Snip an eight- to 10-inch cutting from young, dormant stem or branch of the selected hybrid poplar you wish to clone. Select a section of a branch with at least two buds. Take the cutting sometime after the third week of May.
- 3). Insert the cutting into the loosened soil. Plant the cutting with the bud facing upward. Leave the uppermost bud above the soil, and bury the bottom two-thirds of the cutting underneath the soil. Roots will sprout from the buried portion of the cutting.
- 4). Plant poplar hybrids cuttings nine feet apart and they will grow into a solid windbreak in about three years. Space the trees farther apart if you do not want a solid wall of trees. Do not plant the trees within 140 feet of a house or drain. Their aggressive roots will travel long distances.
- 5). Water the newly planted cuttings well to settle the soil. Keep the cuttings moist during germination, but not soaking. Continue applying herbicides the first two years of the young tree's growth. As the tree gets older and the shade fills in, weed concerns lessen.
- 6). Shoots will begin to emerge in one to two weeks. The tree will grow five to seven feet in its first year.
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