trees

Has anyone successfully grown trees from cuttings ?

 

What kind of trees?

 

Willow trees, yes.

 

Smallish garden trees,

 

That narrows it down.
Some trees will grow from cuttings, a lot wont.

 

Apple trees?

 

Yes hawthorn and blackthorn some buddlejas do well from mature cuttings in autumn/winter.
The majority of trees you see in garden centrea and nurseries are grown from cuttings of one kind or another; for example I have Aralia fistulosa that came from a cutting as did most of the buddlejas and viburnums I grow. If you want a plant to come true to type then you are looking at some form of cutting, if some variability is acceptable then you can use seed.
I really think you are going to have to be a bit more specific than just small garden trees. A few names would help.

 

Apple trees are mostly propagated via grafting.

 

I don't have anything specific in mind. maybe flowers and a good scent. Sorry by my scant knowledge. The idea is just for something of interest to do this time of year.

 

I think you need to have something in mind that you like.

Just wondering if really you are referring to shrubs rather than trees as such.

 

Trees that can be pruned to keep at 6/7 feet max.

 

Acers, are mostly slow growing and can be kept small enough., or for evergreen something like Pinus Mugo.

 

Yes these are slow growing, but not easily propagated by cuttings.

 

@Emjay so what you want are trees that you can keep below 8 ft and grow from cuttings: yes?
In that case anything you see growing in a native hedge will meet your requirements. As will privet.

 

You could also try Rowans from seed @Emjay. They're quite straightforward.
I've never tried doing trees [as such] from cuttings, but if you're successful, you'd have to be very vigilant about that pruning in future. It's easy for any tree or large shrub to get away from you once they're happy.
I'd agree with @NigelJ though - many hedging shrubs/trees would work, and you can keep them pruned. Many people forget that Privet becomes a very nice tree if not pruned into a hedge.
Just be aware that Blackthorn runs, and can spread very rapidly. I'd avoid it unless you have a very large plot for it to do it's thing.