In article ,
Janet Baraclough wrote:

[snip]
shrug I've only been gardening 40 years, there's an awful lot I
still don't know.
We all learn by experience.
True, we all learn by experience. I must thank Janet and Bill for your
responses. You both have convinced me to get a propagation machine.

I will also try the suggestions on alternative ways to propagate plants.
The scientific mind now wants to compare methods and the cost. Does the
machines improve the propagation rate. Will I get X amount of shrubs per
100 cuttings of different methods per cost per plant. I want to know

BDDTGTTS. Your limitation won't be producing enough homegrown plants,
or the cost of them.
It will be, finding the time and energy to maintain 12 acres of
growing shrubs, trees, and a veg garden.
I hope I can retire in three years. I am trying my best to build myself
a gilded cage. Just me, the dog and the land

Buy seed, and stock plants to propagate more of from cuttings. Buy
small, from commercial amenity and forestry growers
( a tiny fraction of the prices charged by garden centres and garden
plant nurseries)
That is very very very good advice. I was looking at garden centers.
A simple statement I have not thought of. Most helpful.

Wire fences are ugly, cheap (if you learn how to DIY) , essential
for animal control, and easily hidden by planting.
Yep, that is why I want the shrubs, to hide the fences.

The best advice I ever got on how to make a big garden from scratch,
was to invest in fencing to exclude rabbits and hares
The hawks take care of the pesky rabbits. Deer & foxes is another story.
I am surprised that the chickens can shake off a hawk. Foxes No.

For growing hardy shrubs from cuttings, a greenhouse is less use
than you may think because it gets too hot in the season you'll be
taking cuttings.
That is true also. Its use would only be for a month in the fall and a
month in the spring. Still I would not mind halving one. I use grow
lights for my seed starting indoors. But towards planting time I have
plants in all my windows to the point where I can't see outside. That is
why I want the heated frame.

. Cuttings often require cool shade while it has leaves but no roots
yet.. Far better, done in line trenches outdoors, like professional
growers do.
Part of my continuing lifelong education

Greenhouses are more useful for tender plants like tomatoes and
geraniums that won't survive winter unprotected.
I could not afford the propane cost during the winter. Just early spring.
I still have a foot of snow on my front lawn.

Enjoy Life... Dan

--
Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.