A Trick To Roses

My grandmother used to plant cut roses in her garden. She'd stick a single stem in the dirt and place a canning jar over it—leaving it there through winter. In spring, there'd be a new rose plant growing. Is there a trick to doing this right?

—Dinah Utah, Casper, Wyoming

Melinda: Grandmothers seem to have the ability to make anything grow. If you want to try this, take 5- to 6-inch-long cuttings in fall from mature canes of hardy roses. Remove the lower leaves and stick the cutting in soil so the lowest node (the place where the leaf was attached) is covered. Then cover it with a jar and keep your fingers crossed. Or you may want to try a more conventional method. Take 6- to 8-inch cuttings from the tips of rose canes that have just finished blooming. This is best done in early summer. Dip the cut ends in rooting hormone and place them in a moist, well-draining potting mix, keeping the roses in a warm area out of direct light. Cover it with a plastic bag until new shoots appear. The rooted cutting can be planted in the garden after the threat of frost has passed.