The best time of year to propagate rhododendron depends on the type of propagation. ‘If you are propagating rhododendron from seed then you want to start sowing it in March or April,’ says H&G’s gardening expert Drew Swainston. ‘If you are propagating rhododendrons from cuttings then you want to do this during the summer or early fall, after the shoots have finished putting on their soft growth for the year and are starting to harden – the ideal stem needs to be sturdy. Find a stem that is neither floppy or too rigid and take any cuttings on a morning, when the stem is full of moisture.’