Garden Notes

Forsythia shrub blooming happily under crabapple tree

I have a couple of forsythia shrubs that bloom beautifully each spring with their vibrant yellow flowers preceding the leaves. Forsythia are fast-growing shrubs with an upright and arching form that can take on a rather wild-looking shape that, to me, looks very natural and free. I prefer this natural look and prune our forsythia bushes only sparingly. They are located beneath large flowering crabapple trees in our yard, so they live in partial shade for much of the growing season. Luckily their early bloom time allows them to be finished before the crab apple trees bloom and the shade
fills in.

The only problem I have with our forsythia is that the birds keep planting buckthorn trees into the middle of the shrubs and sometimes I have a hard time removing the buckthorn. I usually just let the forsythia bloom until they are finished and then do any needed pruning. I also remove any alien trees that I see growing in the clump at this time.

A good way to proceed with pruning is to cut 1/4 to 1/3 of the oldest branches right down to the ground. This encourages new growth and a more compact form. You can also trim a few of the newer branches to improve the overall shape of your shrub. Through regular pruning, you can shape forsythia bushes to conform to a more regular shape, if you so choose. (Since forsythia blooms on last year’s growth, it is best to prune immediately after blooming to avoid interrupting the growth/bloom cycle.)

Forcing Indoor Blooms

Forcing Forsythia to bloom indoors is easy. Cut a few branches, bring them indoors and put them in a vase with water. A couple weeks later, the branches will bloom with golden yellow flowers right in the middle of winter.

Planting Tips:

• Sun requirements: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: will grow in most well drained soils
• Care: easy to grow, established plants require little or no care
• Water: may need to be watered during extended dry periods
• Fertilizer: to promote bright blooms fertilize shrub with high phosphorous fertilizer each spring