Comments on: Pruning strategy for forsythia http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/ Hardy plants for hardy souls Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:24:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jane K http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-76722 Jane K Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:04:24 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-76722 Jenny, thank you for your input - but what I was trying to determine is how far should I trim back the forsythia or should I let them go for the first year and then severely cut them back (to the ground or 5 inches or a foot) fro the ground so that I get nice thick bushes. As I said, I plan to keep them trimmed to about four foot high. I'm just not sure what to do the make sure the plants fill in nicely. Any suggestions. Thanks, Jane Jenny, thank you for your input – but what I was trying to determine is how far should I trim back the forsythia or should I let them go for the first year and then severely cut them back (to the ground or 5 inches or a foot) fro the ground so that I get nice thick bushes. As I said, I plan to keep them trimmed to about four foot high. I’m just not sure what to do the make sure the plants fill in nicely. Any suggestions. Thanks, Jane

]]> By: Jenny http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-76707 Jenny Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:26:19 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-76707 I planted forsythia about 11 years ago (plants were about a foot high at the time) and I planted them 5 feet apart. If I did not trim them at all I believe they would be too tightly together. Before last year I use to trim them 2 or 3 times per season because I like the manicured look. Last year I cut them back to about 2 feet high and let them grow all season. This year I will be getting blossoms again. So I think you should plant them at least 6 feet apart. I planted forsythia about 11 years ago (plants were about a foot high at the time) and I planted them 5 feet apart. If I did not trim them at all I believe they would be too tightly together. Before last year I use to trim them 2 or 3 times per season because I like the manicured look. Last year I cut them back to about 2 feet high and let them grow all season. This year I will be getting blossoms again. So I think you should plant them at least 6 feet apart.

]]> By: Jane K http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-76697 Jane K Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:22:44 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-76697 Can you tell me how to start with new forsythia? I just planted 30 bushes and they are all about 2-3ft tall and I want to make a hedge out of them but want them to get get full and am not sure when or how far to cut them back to make sure they will mature into a nice full hedge. I love the bright yellow spring flowers. Can you give me your advice. Much appreciated, Jane Can you tell me how to start with new forsythia? I just planted 30 bushes and they are all about 2-3ft tall and I want to make a hedge out of them but want them to get get full and am not sure when or how far to cut them back to make sure they will mature into a nice full hedge. I love the bright yellow spring flowers. Can you give me your advice. Much appreciated, Jane

]]> By: Kathy Purdy http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-68114 Kathy Purdy Thu, 20 May 2010 00:21:53 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-68114 You don't say where you live. Was it colder this past winter than it usually is? When did you prune last year? If you pruned too late, it's possible you cut off all the flowering branches. You don’t say where you live. Was it colder this past winter than it usually is? When did you prune last year? If you pruned too late, it’s possible you cut off all the flowering branches.

]]> By: Andrea DuPree http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-68113 Andrea DuPree Thu, 20 May 2010 00:11:53 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-68113 This year the forsythia did not bloom and is leafing out. The branches I tried to force did not bloom either! In the past, I have had success with this shrub. What do you suggest? Thanks! This year the forsythia did not bloom and is leafing out. The branches I tried to force did not bloom either! In the past, I have had success with this shrub. What do you suggest? Thanks!

]]> By: Kathy Purdy http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-67077 Kathy Purdy Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:41:43 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-67077 Does it get enough sun? If it is shaded it won't have enough energy to make flowers. Also, how cold is it in winter? Most forsythia flowers can't take as much winter cold as the wood can. Does it get enough sun? If it is shaded it won’t have enough energy to make flowers. Also, how cold is it in winter? Most forsythia flowers can’t take as much winter cold as the wood can.

]]> By: Mark http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/comment-page-1/#comment-67076 Mark Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:34:27 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/04/27/pruning-strategy-for-forsythia/#comment-67076 HELP....I've pruned ... early...and late, I've not pruned.....even cut it back till it was barely a foot tall. I've fed it and...not fed it, and my Forsythia still has very very few bloom. Durring the summer months it has always grown lush and green and so full, but just never has any bloom on it. HELP….I’ve pruned … early…and late, I’ve not pruned…..even cut it back till it was barely a foot tall. I’ve fed it and…not fed it, and my Forsythia still has very very few bloom. Durring the summer months it has always grown lush and green and so full, but just never has any bloom on it.

]]> 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.

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