Question
Hi Doug, my neighbor has a yard surrounded by hydrengas ( white) plants and she said i could take a ew clippings to startmy own, but I don't know how much of the branches of I need to cut off and when? I am in zone 5 Chicago, (Illiois), and by April 15th we are donewith snow andthe ground in thawing quickly. Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Margaret,
Hydrangeas are easy to root from cuttings. Take cuttings after the new growth has had time to mature, probably around July in Chi Town. Take a cutting about 4 inches long and STRIP the leaves from the cutting EXCEPT the top 2. In other words, leave two leaves on the cutting. Use a high-quality potting soil to root you cuttings. Good drainage is essential, so look for a potting soil with lots of perlite or vermiculite - very porous. You will also need a small package of ROOTONE or HORMODIN. Follow the directions on the container. These are root stimulants and they keep the cutting from rotting. ROOTONE is available at most garden centers and it is WELL WORTH the money. 100 percent of your cuttings will root with ROOTONE and maybe 30 percent will root without it. Make a little hole in the soil, don't just push the cutting in as this will wipe off all of the ROOTONE. Keep the cutting moist and use a misting bottle to keep the leaves moist during the rooting process. Maintain a uniform temperature and keep the cuttings in the shade. After they root, place your NEW Hydrangea plants in a gallon size pot and plant them NEXT year -  THEY WILL DIE if you try to plant them THIS year.
Sorry for the delay in answering. I also coach an AAU basketball team. Here in North Carolina, basketball is more important than anything.
Thanks, Doug