Question
Hi,

I have a Japanese Cherry Tree that has thrown up small plants around the base. On further investigation the smaller bushes seem to be attached to the main bush by a thick 'root'. If I cut the attached root do you think the little bushes would survive independently.

Thank you.

Answer
Hi Magi,
Thanx for your question.  As long as there is a significant root ball around the severed end of the cutting, your plant should survive and grow into a new shrub with weekly watering and periodic feeding.  Be careful though.  Many Japanese Cherry trees have been grafted onto hardier rootstock.  Make sure that the new shrubs are not coming from the old root stock or you will definitely not get what you are thinking you will get.  You should be able to tell where a graft has been made as it will appear as a knob at the base of the shrub.  Suckers or new plants will often generate out of the root stock and this would not be the shrub you were after as the root stock often is of poor quality aesthetically and often has little or no resemblance at all to the graft.  You may want to check with the nursery where you bought the plant to determine if it is grafted or have an arborist or other qualified horticulturalist look at the shrub to help you determine if it is grafted.  Or...just take a chance and see what you get.  At any rate, when making the cutting, be sure there is a handful of root material with the cutting and keep it watered and feed in the spring early summer and mid summer with a balanced fertilizer or well-composted manure.  I hope this helps.
Tom