I'm looking to grow a cutting from my mother-in-law's Japanese red maple but honestly not sure if it's still alive. If it is still alive am I able to make a cutting and root it? If it's not alive is it possible to salvage anything on it? I unfortunately don't have pictures or any more information other than that. Have to convince my husband to take me over there so I can look. His mother passed quite a few years ago so it would be nice to still give him something from her.

Acer palmatum are started from softwood cuttings in early spring. But... It is not an easy task and the best results are achieved using juvenile trees (less than 4 years old) as donors. Your best bet would be if you could collect seed.