I want to take cuttings from my forsythia to propagate them on my 2 acre property. The problem is here in Seattle/Tacoma mother nature usually turns off the rain from now until fall and I don't want to worry about watering these new starts all summer -- believe me the ground quickly dries out to dust once the rain stops due to how porous the soil is, only deeply rooted shrubs/trees survive.

I wanted to see if this plan will work -- in fall when rain starts up (around the time forstyhia probably losing their leaves) take cuttings of my forsythia and stick them directly in the ground which should be watered by mother nature all fall/winter/spring to get them rooted to survive the dry summer of 2010. Does this plan sound like it will work?

If not, what times of year CAN cuttings be taken for rooting directly in ground?

Also, how long of a cutting should I take off each branch?

Thanks in advance!