Comments on: Pruning strategy for forsythia http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/ Hardy plants for hardy souls Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:32:16 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: don coffman http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-48635 don coffman Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:45:59 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-48635 i have a forsythia bush along the back side of my yard which normally is beautiful. it is better than a privacy fence. we have let it grow to about 9 feet tall, we keep it pruned on both sides to about 4 or 5 feet thick. the bushes were started from twigs and are about 20 years old. this year though they seem to be dying out in sections, i trimmed the dead out but cannot figure out what the problem is. we have had alot of rain so far this year, could this be a mold or mildew problem, and if so what can i do . i have a forsythia bush along the back side of my yard which normally is beautiful. it is better than a privacy fence. we have let it grow to about 9 feet tall, we keep it pruned on both sides to about 4 or 5 feet thick. the bushes were started from twigs and are about 20 years old. this year though they seem to be dying out in sections, i trimmed the dead out but cannot figure out what the problem is. we have had alot of rain so far this year, could this be a mold or mildew problem, and if so what can i do .

]]> By: Kathy Purdy http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-18804 Kathy Purdy Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:11:50 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-18804 Jenny, here is a good tutorial on pruning forsythia: http://www.plantamnesty.org/pruning_topics/pt_forsythias.htm Jenny, here is a good tutorial on pruning forsythia:
http://www.plantamnesty.org/pruning_topics/pt_forsythias.htm

]]> By: Kathy Purdy http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-18783 Kathy Purdy Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:12:01 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-18783 Jenny, the standard advice is that you should prune no later than two weeks after blooming has ended--and then quit. <em>How</em> you prune is just as important. You should follow a branch that you want to remove all the way back to where it connects to the main branch and cut it there. Don't cut the tips of all the branches (which is called shearing); each branch will divide where it is cut and give the shrub a frizzy look. If you prune later in the year than 2 weeks after bloom is done and still get good blooming the next year, I guess you're the exception that proves the rule, or you really aren't taking much off in those later prunings. Jenny, the standard advice is that you should prune no later than two weeks after blooming has ended–and then quit. How you prune is just as important. You should follow a branch that you want to remove all the way back to where it connects to the main branch and cut it there. Don’t cut the tips of all the branches (which is called shearing); each branch will divide where it is cut and give the shrub a frizzy look.

If you prune later in the year than 2 weeks after bloom is done and still get good blooming the next year, I guess you’re the exception that proves the rule, or you really aren’t taking much off in those later prunings.

]]> By: Forsythia Pruning: Before and After | Cold Climate Gardening http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-18746 Forsythia Pruning: Before and After | Cold Climate Gardening Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:57:43 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-18746 [...] in April, I discussed my upcoming plans to prune my forsythia bush. It wasn’t flowering very much, and my commenters agreed with me that it needed a heavy [...] [...] in April, I discussed my upcoming plans to prune my forsythia bush. It wasn’t flowering very much, and my commenters agreed with me that it needed a heavy [...]

]]> By: Jenny Palmer http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-18511 Jenny Palmer Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:48:28 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-18511 I prune after flowering and usually twice more in the year because I want the forsythia to look neat and tidy. Some of them come back with many blooms the next year while others do not. What is the latest time I should prune these to ensure flowers in the spring ? I prune after flowering and usually twice more in the year because I want the forsythia to look neat and tidy. Some of them come back with many blooms the next year while others do not. What is the latest time I should prune these to ensure flowers in the spring ?

]]> By: Kathy Purdy http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-16335 Kathy Purdy Wed, 09 May 2007 18:45:53 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-16335 Thanks for the advice everybody. I will probably tackle the job over the weekend. Thanks for the advice everybody. I will probably tackle the job over the weekend.

]]> By: DWPittelli http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-16238 DWPittelli Fri, 04 May 2007 14:03:55 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-16238 Forsythia will almost always survive being cut back to the ground in spring -- if you water it in dry, sunny weather. As noted, you can also cut out 1/3 or 1/4 of the oldest branches to the ground every year, with almost no risk. But that will take 3 or 4 years to get a "finished" bush. You can average these two methods. To have a larger bush next year, and reduce any risk of sudden death from a full coppicing, cut out perhaps 2/3 or 3/4 of the branches to the ground, right now. By all means, fertilize some (I'd go with a Plant-Tone or Holly-Tone at half recommended dosage), and water as needed. There will be almost no risk of plant death, and you will have a significant bush next year, with improved flowering. Then next year, after flowering, and in subsequent years, cut 1/3 or 1/4 of the oldest branches to the ground, as is generally suggested for long-run maintenance. Forsythia will almost always survive being cut back to the ground in spring — if you water it in dry, sunny weather. As noted, you can also cut out 1/3 or 1/4 of the oldest branches to the ground every year, with almost no risk. But that will take 3 or 4 years to get a “finished” bush.

You can average these two methods. To have a larger bush next year, and reduce any risk of sudden death from a full coppicing, cut out perhaps 2/3 or 3/4 of the branches to the ground, right now. By all means, fertilize some (I’d go with a Plant-Tone or Holly-Tone at half recommended dosage), and water as needed. There will be almost no risk of plant death, and you will have a significant bush next year, with improved flowering.

Then next year, after flowering, and in subsequent years, cut 1/3 or 1/4 of the oldest branches to the ground, as is generally suggested for long-run maintenance.

]]> By: Mary Ann http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-16167 Mary Ann Tue, 01 May 2007 03:46:26 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-16167 Well, let me jump right into this discussion. As Ki mentioned, you can prune back one fourth of the plant. I have taken more drastic measures and cut back at least a third. Even if you cut it all the way back to the ground, it will come back. We can't get ours out of the ground without a back hoe, so we just cut it off to see what would happen. It's back and happy and strappy and each branch was covered with blossoms. It looks to me, from your photo, that you plants would benefit from a thorough pruning. Take out the tallest and the fattest branches, at least one third of them. Eyeball it, re-shape a bit, and forget it until next year. Then repeat in 2008. And 2009. Well, let me jump right into this discussion. As Ki mentioned, you can prune back one fourth of the plant. I have taken more drastic measures and cut back at least a third. Even if you cut it all the way back to the ground, it will come back. We can’t get ours out of the ground without a back hoe, so we just cut it off to see what would happen. It’s back and happy and strappy and each branch was covered with blossoms.

It looks to me, from your photo, that you plants would benefit from a thorough pruning. Take out the tallest and the fattest branches, at least one third of them. Eyeball it, re-shape a bit, and forget it until next year. Then repeat in 2008. And 2009.

]]> By: Carol http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-16122 Carol Sat, 28 Apr 2007 03:04:05 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-16122 I admire your analytical, systematic approach to determining why your forsythia didn't bloom as well as in past years. I would guess that pruning out the oldest branches will rejuvenate it a bit. I admire your analytical, systematic approach to determining why your forsythia didn’t bloom as well as in past years. I would guess that pruning out the oldest branches will rejuvenate it a bit.

]]> By: Ki http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-16119 Ki Sat, 28 Apr 2007 01:40:00 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-16119 Hi Kathy, here's some information about why your forsythias are not blooming well from thegardenhelper.com website. "Pruning Forsythias Forsythia flowers form on the previous season's growth, not on new growth, so pruning should be done immediately after the flowers have faded. Once your Forsythia finishes blooming, take a close look to see what pruning needs to be done. Each year, you should prune back about one fourth of the oldest stems to within 4 inches of the ground. If your Forsythia is drastically overgrown from years of neglect, it may stop blooming altogether. If this is the case, you can cut the entire plant to the ground. It may take a few years before you'll see blooms again, but your shrub will come back, better than ever!" I got tired of fighting our overgrown monster and finally dug it out which also did not bloom well because I pruned it at the wrong time. Now, I just enjoy other people's forsythia. Hi Kathy, here’s some information about why your forsythias are not blooming well from thegardenhelper.com website.

“Pruning Forsythias

Forsythia flowers form on the previous season’s growth, not on new growth, so pruning should be done immediately after the flowers have faded. Once your Forsythia finishes blooming, take a close look to see what pruning needs to be done. Each year, you should prune back about one fourth of the oldest stems to within 4 inches of the ground.
If your Forsythia is drastically overgrown from years of neglect, it may stop blooming altogether. If this is the case, you can cut the entire plant to the ground. It may take a few years before you’ll see blooms again, but your shrub will come back, better than ever!”

I got tired of fighting our overgrown monster and finally dug it out which also did not bloom well because I pruned it at the wrong time. Now, I just enjoy other people’s forsythia.

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