Taking hardwood cuttings
You can take cuttings of many shrubs and climbers while they’re dormant: roses, box, philadelphus, spiraea and cornus are all ideal. And doing it now gives them a chance to get rooting while temperatures are low, thus stealing a march on the leaves.
The process is simple: take a stem as thick as a pencil, cut below a leaf and above a leaf and plunge the bottom end into a pot of free-draining compost. Water and keep in a not-too-chilly place, such as a cold frame or sheltered spot. When leaves appear in spring, check underneath for roots and pot on when they’re visible.