Question
I have several Rose books but on the subject of rooting a cutting they all are vauge. I have had some sucess cloning, mostly climbing Roses that seem to grow wild in this part of the country, but would like to get better. Can you help me in this matter, is there a best time to clone for Kentucky ? One book talked of taking a cutting and putting in in a cool spot with just a little light and over the winter it would root, do you know of this method? Thanx for your help.

Answer
Here is a good web site that will guide you through the process of making rose cuttings.
http://members.aol.com/mmmavocad3/Cuttings.html
Just make sure that you use only the last 8 inches of a cane that has already flowered that season. This will give you more vigour in the cutting. Also take at least 6 cuttings as some will not take. After taking the cuttings snip the ends so the new roots can grow out easier.
There are two types of cuttings. One is done in the spring and the other in the fall. In Kentucky you would have more success with the ones taken in the fall. If you don't get a very cold winter, take you all the leaves off the cuttings except the last top two. The cuttings should be about 8 inches long. Take a shovel, drive it into the soil in a place where it doesn't get hot afternoon sun, just morning and later afternoon sun. Then sprinkle some sand, crushed leaves, anything that makes it easy for new frail roots to push into. Vermiculite is also a good material to use. You can dip the ends in a rooting chemical but use the liquid as it does better than the powder which can clog the stem ends. Place the cuttings so that the last two leaves are resting on the top of the ground. Cover up with soil. Leave them in for a year. You will be able to see next spring when ones took and then you can move them the next spring. Many people kill new cuttings because they move them too quickly. Hope this helps. Lynnette