Can you take cuttings from trees?

You do not need to dip the cutting in rooting compound. Yes you remove all the leaves. No you just make a slit in the soil somewhere shady and not too dry with a spade and push the cutting in. If your soil is clay, you could trickle some sharp sand into the slit first. Just make sure the bottom of the cutting is touching the soil and close up the slit with your foot. Forget about it then. Do not be in too much of a hurry to move it though, They can get new leaves without actually growing any roots. Wait until it starts to grow from the tip rather than just having leaves. Good luck. Oh, and it may take a few years to get to a decent size!

 

RHS Online, Horticultural advice: Hardwood cuttings

Most Prunus (Cherry, plum etc.) should root fairly easily but be patient and don't be tempted to disturb them and peek at the roots as it will likely damage the delicate new tissue and cause them to fail. If you use deep 'rose' type pots for hardwood cuttings you will know they are ready for planting out when roots begin to show at the bottom of the pot.

Remember though, an awful lot of flowering cherry are budded onto dwarfing rootstock so your cuttings may behave very differently to you neighbour's tree.