Background
Cuttings taken from local shrubs and transplanted to your backyard are better adapted to conditions in your area and will also save you money.
Procedure
• Collect shoots from plants near your project site. Choose wildlife favourites, such as red-osier dogwood, cottonwood poplar, elderberry, serviceberry, and staghorn sumac.
• Use a sharp knife to cut lengths of 20 to 25 cm from the growth of previous years. At one end, make the cut straight; at the other, cut a 45 degree angle.
• Make sure there's a living bud near the top of the cutting. Leave 1 to 2 cm of stem above the bud.
• After spring thaw (but before the buds open), poke a hole in the ground, then push the angled end of the cutting into the hole until its top is flush with the ground.
• Pack soil around the shoot with your foot.
• You can also collect cuttings in winter and store them in airtight plastic bags in a freezer. When ready to plant, presoak the cuttings in water for 24 hours.