Question
I have a chinese snowball that I have been unable to grow cuttings.  If I bury a bloom on a lower branch, should the bloom be alive or spent?

Answer
Hi Jane,
Thanx for your question.  Don't bury the bloom.  If you have a branch that you can suspend against the soil you can use that to propagte the shrub.  Scrape the branch enough to expose some of the white skin underneath the outer green layer.  Make a depression in the soil and place the wound downside on the ground, cover with dirt and put a large rock on top to prevent the branch from coming out.  Water the branch frequently.  You should have a growing plant in a few months.  When you start to see new leaves and an increase in the growth of the branch from underneath the rock, you'll know your plant has rooted, otherwise, check it out in the Fall.  If it has survived, cut the branch from the mother plant and dig up the cutting.  Move it to the desired location.  I hope this helps.
Tom