% of people told us that this article helped them. My first memory of Forsythia, is of my mother returning from the vicinity of the 'posh' house, with a few twigs of Forsythia in bud, after she had 'pruned' the bits that overhung the footpath! Forsythias grow and flower well in full sunshine or light, though they will tolerate and put on a good show in dappled shade. Cut them low to the ground with a handsaw. The tips of its arching stems can root when they touch the ground; thus, the plant can spread. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. After that, Forsythia Viridissima came into European gardens and markets. When you need to remove a branch, cut it back all the way to the ground. Many people prefer this wild look, and annual pruning is by no means mandatory. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. The stem will then re-grow during the year, to the same length as before. If you don’t remove low branches, they may start to root to the ground. Full sun, or woodland shade are acceptable choices of planting positions. Hedge-shaped forsythias require pruning several times a year rather than just 1 time in the spring. But DO remember to do this as soon as possible after the Forsythia has finished blooming in mid-spring. Gold to orange foliage. The most important members of the Forsythia variety are Forsythia suspensa and Forsythia Viridissima. 7. The form varies depending on the variety. Thereafter, prune as above. b/ Cut some of the growth - about 25% - right back to within a few cm of the ground. Right after flowering, cut out all of the stems that have flowered - back to a good healthy pair of buds. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Providing that the pruning is a light trim, and not back hard into the stems, then there will be plenty of flowers the following year. Forsythia) is a genus of small trees and bushes of the olive family (Oleaceae), blooming with bright yellow flowers in early spring. In addition, the leaves and stems, fruit and roots can also be used for homegrown medicinal purposes. Forsythia is one of the most popular of the spring flowering shrubs – so much so that some people class them as weeds! Propagation of Forsythia is quite easy with semi-ripe cuttings, or simply a 30cm length of stem inserted into garden soil during the autumn or early winter. "Most articles only refer to removing the larger branches of mature forsythias and don't explain what other pruning. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. If left unpruned, forsythia plants can get very large and take over other areas of your garden. It grows in a temperate climate. Pruning Weeping Forsythia. Once your weeping, multi-stemmed Forsythia is establishes, then all of the pruning should be aimed at getting this waterfall of gold from the tops of the main stems. If you prune Forsythia too Otherwise see, Elaeagnus - Evergreen Types can be cut back quite hard during April/May - or later. sieboldii, is an early spring blooming shrub with bright yellow flowers on widely arching branches. This will encourage basal shoots to grow, which will keep the Forsythia well provided with strong stems to flower in later years. The autumn foliage is attractive and can range from yellow through to orange, but with yellow being the predominant colour. Cutting the shrub back by shortening the branches destroys its natural shape, and it can take three years or more to recover its natural beauty. They are best pruned in a way that retains their natural arching shape. Adapts to wide range of soils. Forsythia suspensa (weeping forsythia) is a slender shrub with long arching branches, suitable for training as a climber. Euonymus (evergreen) - trim to shape in spring - or cut back hard if required. Weeping forsythia is typically grown on stream banks as a weeping shrub. For normal Forsythia shrubs - bushes - you will need to prune them as soon as possible after flowering in the early spring. ", http://www.amateurgardening.com/how-to/pruning-forsythia-the-right-way-3316, https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/shrub/forsythia.php, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Best flower production in full sun. Pruning cuts well back into the growth. Most of the Forsythia group of shrubs - there are several popular types - can grow to around 2.4m tall though 1.8m is normal. If this is done, then you will have masses of flowers the following year. Most of the Forsythias grow reasonable erect as shrubs, though there are a few that have arching stems – even hanging. This species is also called ‘forsythia suspensa’ and is native to Asia. It is no use just trimming the ends off this shrub. If you want to tame an overgrown plant, prune it in the summer, fall, or winter. Trimming forsythia while they are young will help control their shape and size. Keeping your forsythia open allows light and air into the middle of the shrub, which helps it grow healthy. For best results, do this in late winter or early spring. Only when they mature should you prune them once a year. a/ Cut back flowered growths at least 1/3rd of the way back into the shrub, to a new young shoot; or a strong bud (Leaf joint). Weeping Forsythia, Forsythia suspensa var. The best time for trimming forsythia is in the spring after the blooms fade. These were placed in a jar and held pride of place on the sideboard - giving weeks of bright yellow 'cut flowers'! This article has been viewed 45,191 times. For more tips from our Gardening co-author, including how to reduce the number of flowers on your forsythia, read on! In TCM : Forsythia Suspensa Fruit : Lian Qiao Meridians associated : Liver, Heart and Gall Bladder. This article has been viewed 45,191 times. All types of forsythia, regardless of growth style, need a deep pruning every three years or so, because the … Griselinia - Can be cut back quite hard at start of Spring growing season. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. If you do it wrong, then nothing on your Forsythia but foliage! Pruning forsythia is essential to control this growth. Weeping forsythia is native to China and popularly planted in North America for its arching branches that bear numerous, early-blooming, yellow flowers. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. Other Names: ... Keep them from getting too leggy or scraggly with regular pruning. Neutral: On Jan 26, 2006, Gabrielle from (Zone 5a) wrote: I had Forsythia in an area that was a bit shady, and though it was lush looking, it never bloomed. If your forsythia plant is under 5 years old, it’ll need little to no pruning. It is hardy to zone (UK) 5 and is not frost tender. It is the perfect back of border shrub, with most of its flowers on the top half of the shrub. Carl Peter Thunburg (1743-1828) was a Swedish surgeon and a botanist. The first forsythia discovered by a western scientist was Forsythia suspensa. Though they tolerate dry sites, they also respond well with their growth in a moist be well drained area. Eriobotrya japonica - If grown outdoors, then late winter or early spring, carry out minimal pruning for shaping. Best pruned when dormant. Forsythias are fast-growing and require regular pruning to retain an attractive appearance. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. If you spot any dead, bent, or split stems, cut them too. Thunberg gave the plant the scientific name Syringa suspensa and brought it to Europe. Forsythia suspensa - The weeping Forsyt h ia - grown as a hedge - should only be pruned the once, to allow plenty of long arching stems to form an attractive - but slightly informal hedge. The hedge can be cut twice each year, with the last cut taking place in Late July/August. By using our site, you agree to our. The two quite variable species F. suspensa and F. viridissima were the first to be brought from the Far East to Europe. Forsythia suspensa Characteristics It will soon send out a mass of new shoots with which you can re-form your hedge. Forsythia flowers on stems and buds made in the previous year. While this may get rid of the bulk of your shrub faster, the plant will grow excessive, dense growth where you make your cuts. If you want a well clipped hedge of Forsythia, the pruning is carried out with either a pair of shears or a hedge trimmer. Dead, bent, and split stems also change the look of your shrub. You’ll want to prune your forsythia in the spring after its yellow flowers fade and its leaves start to grow so it’ll grow better next year. The only drawback with the Forsythia, is the fact that once it has provided its mass of flowers, you are left with a nondescript green foliage shrub through until autumn, when the foliage takes on its autumn colours for a short time. This is probably one of the most wrongly pruned shrubs of all! By getting rid of them, you reduce the overall height of your shrub. Weeping Forsythia. After a few years, your plant will look full again. If you want to help maintain the shape of the plant as it grows, you can snip off a few longer stems once a … By cutting some of the main stems of your Forsythia bush back to near ground level, you will get a continued supply of new stems - which will ensure that your Forsythia shrubs flower from top to near bottom. Leucothoe - rarely, and if so, just to shape - in early spring. It is described as a large shrub that stands out due to its pale color, which makes it easily identifiable. With at least three thousand years of use and documentation, it is traditionally considered a detoxicant for treating so-called “toxic” and “hot” conditions. Pruning . The largest stems have the thickest diameter. It will take a few years - 2 - 3 to see the effect, but it is well worth the wait. They are slightly smaller, 1-1¼ in. They are generally trouble free, though they are sometimes affected with honey fungus if it is prevalent in the area. They are the ideal shrub for lightening up a dark corner of the garden in the spring flowering season – with a dark background to set off the masses of golden bell flowers. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Genus Forsythia are deciduous shrubs with simple, occasionally lobed, leaves and short tubular yellow flowers with 4 spreading lobes, borne profusely before the leaves in spring . The pruning cut would be right at the bottom of the picture. It grows 8 to 10 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide. Forsythia are well suited to growing as a colourful hedge, though a little bit sparse at ground level. Forsythia tolerate a wide variety of soil types and are grow best in sunny locations. Cut back well into the bush as shown, low down the flowered stem - ideally to a pair of strong new buds. Details F. suspensa is a deciduous, arching shrub to 3m tall and wide. Forsythia needs a long growing season in which to make its flowering stems and flower buds for the next spring. Periodic Deep Pruning. Prune your forsythias once a year so your plants stay healthy and look great! This will produce nice basal growth, which in turn will be part of your framework for the following year. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Prune-Forsythia-Step-01.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Forsythia-Step-01.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/84\/Prune-Forsythia-Step-01.jpg\/aid10064713-v4-728px-Prune-Forsythia-Step-01.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"