Question
I have a wild Cherokee rose bush that I planted ten years ago. I purchased a new home and would like to start a new rose bush from cuttings since it is much to big to dig up. What is the best way to do that and is it possible this time of the year? I live in Bay St. Louis, MS.

Answer
Cuttings can be taken anytime but the fall is a good time as well as spring. Take a lot as some may not take. Cut an  8 inch piece from the top of a cane that has flowered this year. Remove the hips from the top and then take all the leaves off except the last two on the top. Place these cuttings into a seed mix (which you can get from a garden center) right down until the last two leaves are resting on the top.. Wet it well before you insert them. Cover with a clear plastic bag to keep it moist. Place the cuttinngs in a sunny window, warmth doesn't matter as they will start when it is cool. When you see the leaves starting to grow, remove the plastic but spray them with water daily. When the leaves are really growing well then feed them any house plant fertilizer at half strength every two weeks. Keep the seed mixture damp but not wet. Leave them in the original container until the fall and then if they are big and have good vigour plant them in your new home. If they are only about 18 inches or less, transplant them in the fall to individual pots and replant later in the next summer. You can plant them in the summer even when they are growing as they will have filled the pots with roots. Hope this helps.