Dogwood (Cornus spp.) — grown as an ornamental shrub or tree — is available in a number of cultivars at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 to 9, and can be readily propagated by cuttings. Softwood cuttings are obtained from summer and spring growth and hardwood cuttings are taken during the winter dormant season. Use whichever type is the most convenient for you because they are both excellent methods of propagating dogwood.
Softwood Cuttings
Use sharp, clean pruners to take softwood cuttings from dogwood in June or July. Choose pieces that are soft and flexible in the new spring growth. Eliminate 6- to 8-inch bits that don’t have some flowers growing on them. Remove the leaves in the lower half of this piece and trim 2 inches from the bottom by cutting in a 45-degree angle.
Utilize a 5-inch-deep grass that has drainage holes at the bottom. Fill it with a mixture of equal parts perlite and peat to about 1 inch from the top of the pot. Pour water above the potting mix until water flows from the bottom and to the tray. Use a pencil or stick to make a hole at the center of the grass.
Dip the cutting hormone rooting powder and insert it in the hole. Do not bury any of these leaves. Firm the potting medium around the stem until it’s set in place. Discard the additional water in the tray. Place the pot in a transparent plastic bag and set it at a bright place out of direct sunlight.
Check on the cutting frequently to make sure the soil is constantly moist but not waterlogged. The cutting will take a few weeks to take root and then it is possible to remove it in the plastic bag.
Hardwood Cuttings
Obtain hardwood floors throughout the dormant winter season. Choose branches from the latest summer growth. Use pruners and remove 6- to 12-inch-long bits that are 3/8 into 3/4 inch in diameter.
Prepare a 5- to 8-inch-deep pot by filling it with equal parts peat, perlite and sand. Water the soil and use a pencil or stick to make a hole at the center of the ground.
Trim 1 inch from the base of the cutting in a 45-degree angle and dip it into hormone rooting powder. Put it in the hole you created in the grass and press the soil around it. Put it in a transparent plastic bag and use a heat mat under set at 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep it at a bright location from direct sun.
Check on the cutting frequently to make sure the soil is constantly moist but not waterlogged. The cutting will take a few weeks to take root and then you can remove it in the plastic bag.