“Waste not, want not” is as good advice today as it was in the past. The Shakers were no strangers to this saying and this is evidenced in everything from their architectural use of natural daylight, thus not wasting valuable oil or candles, to their use of waste organic materials to produce valuable compost for their gardens.

In addition to great sustainable methods such as these, one can conserve both time and money by propagation and storage of this year’s plants for next year’s use. The first of these methods, propagation (don’t worry if you already missed this opportunity, there's always next year) is a method of saving the plants you enjoyed this year by producing clones of them. Different plants can be propagated in different ways; you can either purchase a book on general propagating techniques or do an online search to find out about the specific needs of different plants.

One of the simplest techniques is to take cuttings. Simply place your cutting in water. The only real special knowledge involved is that you want to take the cutting with a sharp instrument, remove a majority of the lower leaves and make sure that you remove all the leaves that will be submerged below the water line. If you leave the lowest of the leaves that will be submerged, eventually they will decompose and foul your water, making it less likely that the cutting will root.

I recommend that you take more than one cutting to ensure success. If you notice the water getting cloudy, simply replace the water, rinse out the vessel that the cuttings are in, and rinse off the cuttings. Place the vessel with the cutting in bright, indirect sunlight and in a few days to a week you will see roots develop. When there is a good amount of root structure, gently pot up the cutting in a good potting soil, water well, and keep it from direct sun for a few days. If the leaves wilt a bit after transplanting, you can place a clear plastic bag over the new plant to keep up the humidity around it, soon the leaves should be firm again and ready for more light and growth.

Another way of saving money is to simply store away this year’s plants for next year. Some plants readily lend themselves to this technique by creating their own “hibernation chambers” in the forms of bulbs, tubers or corms. Hardy plants such as Daylilies do this and can remain in the ground through winter just waiting for the arrival of spring.

However, there are more tender plants such as Cannas and Dahlias that are not winter hardy and will not survive our harsh winters, even under the cover of soil or mulch. These tender tubers need to be dug up after a hard frost and brought into a frost-free location. The frost will help the plant tops to die back, which you then cut back to about an inch from the top of the soil. There are many techniques for storing various types of plants, and plenty of literature and online resources to help you with specific plants.

The Cannas and the Dahlias are among the simplest to save. The Cannas you can just dig up and allow to dry. Knock off the excess soil, then place them in a box with some air circulation. Store them in a very cool place that is frost free. The Dahlias can be a bit more tricky, but I have found a fool-proof technique for storing these tubers. First make sure you keep the tubers on the stem of the Dahlia, it is from the stem that the new stems will spouts. Next, wash off the tubers and let them air dry for a couple of days. Place them in boxes (line cardboard boxes with plastic bags) and add potting soil to surround the tubers.  Then moisten the soil and keep it just slightly moist throughout the winter. These tubers are again placed in a cool but frost-free location. Come spring you will see new growth starting on both the Dahlias and the Cannas. When the weather permits plant them outdoors, or if you have good light pot them up and get a head start on the season.