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February has had a warm start and with the spring-like weather recently some people may be thinking about their gardens and landscaping. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach advise there are several ways to propagate a plant, including using hardwood stem cuttings. Hardwood stem cuttings use shoots of the previous year’s growth on trees, shrubs or vines to produce new plants. Willow, poplar, dogwood, forsythia, wisteria, grape, gooseberry and elderberry can all be propagated by this method. They advise, material for hardwood stem cutting should be collected in late winter when the plant is dormant. The material should be taken from healthy plants growing in full sun. Stem cutting length varies from four to 12 inches and the diameter ranges from one quarter to one inch. Each cutting should have at least two nodes, where a leaf bud attaches to the stem, with the bottom cut made just below a node and the top one-half to one inch above a node. Once you have a cutting, dip the bottom in a rooting hormone, gather the cuttings together and secure them with twine or rubber bands. Then place the bundle in a plastic bag with lightly moistened moss or wood shavings. The cuttings should be stored in a refrigerator, which keeps them in a dormant state. As soon as the ground is workable, take the cuttings out of the bag and plant them in the ground. Consistent moisture is crucial to the successful rooting of the stem cuttings, regularly water them after planting.