Hello! I'm new here so apologies if these questions have been asked and answered in the past. When is the best time to cut a cane for propagation? Can I use rooting hormone to facilitate the process? Is there anything special I need to know/do?

Question #2 if I may....I have found that one climbing rose, growing through a tuteur thrives with little or no winter kill damage to the canes. However, another climber growing against a fence seems to die back quite a bit each year. That plant is about 8 or 9 years old. I have babied it along because it has had only one season in all these years when it bloomed and was breathtaking. I guess I just keep hoping for another such season. That rose was labeled 'America,' which is really all that I recall.

Any help will be most appreciated!
Faxxes in New England