Hydrangea Cuttings - September Starts - September 2022

Along with the Catalpa tree seeds/seedlings work and the transplanting of the Kentucky Coffee Tree seedlings into larger containers, I came across a video that talked about growing hydrangeas from cuttings.  So...I figured....why not give it a try.  

The process is pretty easy.  Find a shoot that is still green.  Count down three pairs of leaves and give the shoot a cut.  I then dipped the stem in rooting compound, trimmed all the leaves off - and even trimmed the remaining leaves in half - and stuck it in some potting mix.  

I'm trying this with two species:  on the left below (the sad one) is Strawberry Vanilla Hydrangea.  On the right is a Limelight Hydrangea.  I stuck them in a couple of pots that I formerly had Kentucky Coffee tree seedlings that I had on hand: 

Below is a closer look at the Limelight.  After I took this photo, I trimmed the top leaves in half to try to give the little cutting a bit less plant to try to support.  

I have concerns that I've taken on this project too late in the season.  Could I get this thing to root only to have it be killed by a hard frost?  And, how do I overwinter this?  Same way as the tree seedlings by digging it into the ground and mulching over the top?  

Yesterday, I talked about collecting seeds and nuts for a tree nursery.  Looks like I'm also going to try my hand at a shrub nursery, too.  At least with these two hydrangea cuttings this season.  Will they make it?  I'm not sure.  But, I'll learn something.  And think about starting them earlier in 2023.  This needs to go on my 2023 to-do list:  grow shrub cuttings earlier in the season. 

Is this on my 2022 to-do list?  No.  Not really.  But, shrubs *were* my #1 item.  So, this kinda counts, right?