Rooting hormones are widely used by commercial plant propagators and are now available for hobbyists from garden centers and nurseries. To apply the hormone, dip the bottom inch of the cutting in water and then in the rooting powder. To successfully root a plant, keep the cuttings from drying out before roots form. Deciduous hardwood cuttings are usually made 6 to 10 inches long from dormant plants in the winter. Stick the cuttings in the soil so that only the top node is above the ground.
New roots form as growth begins in the spring.
New stem growth and the root system develop together, so generally just an occasional watering is all that is needed. Some suggest placing an inverted quart jar over the cutting, but this is usually not necessary if the soil is kept reasonably moist. Any good garden soil is okay. Some use the vegetable or flower garden, while others prefer to stick cuttings behind shrubs in the foundation planting. When these plants root, they are usually left undisturbed until they go dormant in the fall.