Hi Jenn, you're welcome! It really isn't all that difficult to wring out the paper. I like using three full sheets. I unfold them, laying them out flat, then put my hand right in the center, wrapping them around my hand and wrist while dunking them into a bucket of water for a few minutes. I pull them out, gently folding them into a twist and wring them out. There is a little tearing some times, but not terribly. If you're careful, you can wring out most of the water with little tearing because of the thickness of the three sheets. If it's more comfortable for you, fold them the best you can and run an old rolling pin from the kitchen over them until they no longer drip, but are thoroughly wet/damp. With the wet paper still twisted from wringing them out, grab the "rope" of wet paper in the center then just gently shake it back and forth. It will begin to loosen and fall open. It makes it easier for you to spread them out as a wet, three layer sheet. Process your cuttings and lay them in the center of the sheet with a label. Once you're finished processing all the cuttings, fold over the top and bottom of the sheet, the ends at the top and bottom of the cuttings, then begin rolling them tightly into the "burrito". Make sense? I've also laid out the three sheets of paper on the deck and thoroughly wet them with the hose, but that uses more water, so I prefer the bucket. My concern is your spray bottle may not sufficiently wet the paper. Dipping or dunking them into a bucket of water does. If the paper tears a bit, don't worry, just spread it out as flat as you can and use it. You'll have several layers of damp paper rolled up encasing the cuttings to provide them sufficient moisture so it isn't a real issue. If you're doing several batches, just put each burrito into a plastic bag to prevent it from drying and add each one to the bag as you complete it. Once you're finished with them all, gently squeeze out the excess air from the bag and tie it shut. I then put this one upside down into another bag and repeat the process. I've usually used three bags together, each one reversed from the other, to provide as much of a seal against moisture loss as possible, then placed them in the dresser drawer in the garage to keep them cool. When the weather is conducive for the work room attached to the garage to remain in the sixties degree range, I've also just laid them on a shelf in that room where they've also worked just fine. I understand what you meant about putting them on the refrigerator now, thank you. As long as the heat from the motor doesn't warm them, and they remain in the approximate temperature range, all should work just fine. I'm excited to follow your progress! Many years ago, very dear friends retired from this area and moved into the mountains north of Los Angeles. She was sad she had to leave the three bushes of Circus she planted at that house shortly after they bought it in the early sixties. After the move, I knocked on the door and introduced myself to the new owners and requested permission to take cuttings, explaining why I wanted them. They were delighted to share them with me. Both Janne and I were excited when I visited and handed her several own root plants of her beloved Circus, propagated from her old plants. She had some of her old garden, where she'd happily lived for thirty plus years and raised her six children, to grace her "retirement" garden. That connection with your old plant is a happy one. Been there many times and plan on many more! Kim

hmmm ... no pic of the yew overall ... if its as close to the house as the holly ... it is/was improperly planted too close to the house ... it had value as a cute babe ... now it is a geriatric monster.. and most likely should go ... and i will hold that opinion .. with or w/o a pic ... cut it to 4 feet.. and then start digging and get rid of it ... using the height to start wiggling it out as you continue to dig and cut roots .. [make sure you know where all the buried utilities are at a new house] i learned this lesson with my first house.. keeping the history of the house in mind.. i tried to restore and save every plant i could.. 5 years later.. i achieved nirvana .. when i removed the last nightmare problem that SOB left me.. lol ... think of it more along the lines of an opportunity to make your mark on your new landscape.. rather than the loss of a nightmare ... can you trim a yew that way.. sure.. why not.. its yours.. will you spend the next 5 or 10 years hoping it will turn into a reasonable looking plant.. yeah.. probably ... all i ask is ... do you want to look at a mutant for that period of time... i have no experience working with holly .. but frankly .... i would put it in the same class of project.. and chuck it ... your landscape is what YOU make it.. and dealing with the prior owners problems.. makes it about him.. rather than your dream of what your new garden is all about ... good luck ken

Great tutorial Nell, I'm going to try this with some of my shrubs. This method really works with perennial Asters (Michaelmas Daisies). Great way if sharing with someone through the mail :o). I usually do this in march, dig the clump, discard the center, cut the roots into small pieces that have growth buds on and either replant 3 or 4 pieces back in the hole, in 4" pots (garden club plant sale) or wash them off put them in ziplock baggies in a bit of damp paper towel and send off in the mail. I should think this should work with other plants as well. You've got rid of the soil, so there goes the weight, when the root cuttings arrive they can be potted up and grown on or planted out. This is how my daisies came from England as no soil is allowed into the country. The only other way I could have got them would have had them rooted in rock wool, this was so much simpler. Annette

Bad roots - rotted: usually blackish, sometimes mushy or slimy, could have bad odor dead: should be quite easy to see, darker or light in color, brittle, skinny and or wrinkled and really dead looking damaged: fresh damage, with 'flesh' visible Good roots look plump, usually whitish color (some plants may have darker color roots), do not feel too soft when you touch them. Often they have lots of fine, hair-like roots. From what I can tell in your photo, they look pretty healthy (it may be easier to judge by taking close-up photo). That's what I would be looking for - hope I got it right...Rina