A bundle of leafless stems is easy to reverse once the cuttings have been prepared. Use the marking method specified in your propagation instructions so the top and bottom remain clear.
Identify the shrub and select suitable dormant material. Prepare the rooting place or container before making a large batch; it is easier to keep cuttings organised while their identity and orientation are obvious.
Work in labelled groups
Label each group with the plant name and date. If you take material from several parent plants, keep those groups separate too.
Use clean tools and make sound cuts without crushing the stems. Follow the appropriate depth and medium for the identified plant rather than applying a photograph's proportions to every cutting.
Once inserted, check moisture and exposure through the season. Bud movement is encouraging but does not by itself confirm a strong root system. Avoid repeatedly lifting the cutting to investigate. Keep a simple record of what was used and when it was prepared; that will help you compare successful and unsuccessful batches without relying on memory.
In the RHS hardwood-cutting method, the upper cut slopes above a bud and the lower cut runs straight below a bud. The different cuts make orientation visible when several bare stems are laid together.
Related reading: Dogwood Hardwood Cuttings: Preparation and Rooting.