Question
Hi, Jim. As an AllExperts volunteer myself, I appreciate your time.

I live in Central Illinois, and we have an 8 year old cherry tree that blooms marvelously every spring. I am embarrassed to say I don't know the variety of cherry. It was a gift.

This tree also has significant sentimental value for us, and since my wife and I are moving in about 16 months to a new home near Roanoke, I was wondering if I could propagate the tree, and how to do it. I'm trying to get ahead of the issue a bit as I know that certain times of year are best for such efforts.
The area where we are moving is, on average 3-4 degrees warmer in the winter and similarly cooler in the summer than central illinois, and has about an extra 10 days of growing season.

Thanks for any help. If it would help to have a picture of the tree, I can do that.

Peter

Answer
Cherrys are one of the hard trees to root. If it was me I would try. Use new growth and cut these about 6 to 8 inches long dip them at once in a rooting hormone  (indolebutyric acid (IBA) would be best. Check with your local garden/ nursery type store for this. Without going into a long discussion here is a web link that discribes the rooting process and what is needed to do this. It is not as hard as it sounds but sucess depends mainly on the species being rooted.
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/pnw0152/pnw0152.html

Good luck.