Question
A friend told me she heard that if you bent the bottom branches of the bush and buried the bloom in the ground,
that it would soon sprout new shoots which could be
transplanted. Is this true or is there a better way propagate
these bushes?

Answer
Hi Susan,
Thanx for your question.  Your friend is correct.  The form of propagation about which you speak is called layering and is a common and easy way to propagate shrubs.  For a beginner, I would say this is the easiest way to start of learning how to propagate woody perennials and shrubs.  There are other methods and they aren't necessarily better so, yes, this is a good way and I would go ahead and try it.  Different varieites of shrubs require different amounts of time to form roots.  Be sure to wound the piece of branch you  want to root and the branch should be thin and not too thick.  You can wound the branch by scraping it with a knife.  bury the branch about 3 or 4 inches under soil and place a rock on top so the branch can't be pulled out by wind.  When you see new growth appear, you'll know your branch has rooted and then you can dig it up and cut the new plant from the mother plant and plant it wherever you like.  I hope this helps.
Tom