Question
We removed a cottonwood about 3 months ago that had fallen down do to wind and to much water!! Now we are cutting and splitting it to be used as firewood in a couple of years.. It has been cut into 4 foot chunks for 3 months and now we are finding there are little branches starting to grow out of the bark.. So here is my question how do we get roots to form from these branches?? Or can we?? Do I put them in water or in potting soil or dirt?? Would really love to have cottonwoods around!!!

Answer
Cottonwood will root fairly easily. Take soft wood cuttings  that are 6-8 inches long (shorter ones will also work).  Strip off all of the leaves except the last two or three.  Dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone like Rootone or indolebutyric acid (IBA), which is available at most nurseries and garden centers and place the cuttings two inches deep in damp, warm sand potting soil mix (1/2 each). The over all depth of the mixture should be around 3-4 inches in a container. Don't let the mixture dry out and make sure it stays warm.  Rooting should have started by 8 weeks.  You can probe gently with a stick or pencil around the cutting to check for roots.  Once a good root system has been established, gently prick out the cuttings and plant them in separate pots and then place outdoors in a spot where the cutting will be protected from direct sunlight, wind, hail, rain and extremes in temperatures. When they reach about 12 inches tall plant them out where you want them.