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I would like to try my hand at growing roses from cuttings. What time of year is the best to do this and which would be the best method?

Thanks
David

September/October. Semi-ripe cuttings (ie the wood from this years growth). 18 inches to 2 foot long. Cut just below a leaf joint. Slit trench, shady spot. Sprinkle sharp sand in bottom of trench. Insert cutting to about half length. Wait 12 months. Sometimes they get new leaves before they get new roots, so do not be in too big a hurry to move. Some modern hybrids are very weak growers on their own roots which is why they are grafted.

Actually Eric, they`re not grafted, they are budded, and the main reason for this is not that they are weak growers (although I will agree that some are), but because a parent plant will provide 10 times as many buds as cuttings and thus provide a greater and faster profit for the nurseryman.  This is also probably the main reason why nobody has bothered growing roses by stem cell culture.