Flowering forsythia are among the first signs of spring. They are not called gold bells for nothing. The bright yellow flowers are a great, serene contrast to the muted tones of our northern winter landscape. Hardy and easy to grow, forsythia is one of the most popular hardy shrubs to bloom in spring. The scrawny branches burst with tiny yellow flowers, ringing in the warm season with a gorgeous explosion of color. Forsythia is a common landscape and garden plant for good reason. They grow well in full sun and tolerate partial shade. The shrubs are not picky about soil conditions, resist pests and grow relatively quickly. When it comes to pruning, it doesn’t look complicated at all. Today we will tell you how you should prune your forsythia so that it can bloom even more magnificently.
When the forsythia bloom, spring is just around the corner
When should you prune forsythia?
Forsythias should be planted in areas where they have enough space to grow to their full potential. The naturally unruly shrubs with arching branches can easily grow to 2 meters in height and almost as wide. Although each flower is only about 2.5cm across, the number of simultaneous blooms adds up to a spectacular spring show. After the petals wither and fall to the ground, tiny green leaves emerge to fill the void. And then of all times, after the flowering period, is the right time to carry out a slight pruning. This is more of a shape and grooming cut.
Important! Please note the cutting ban from March 1st! According to the Federal Nature Conservation Act, no trees may be felled, no hedges removed and generally no radical pruning carried out from this date until September 30th. All this is logically done to protect breeding birds. Therefore, you should always remember to check the branches for bird nests even before a maintenance cut.
Safety goggles, gloves and quality pruning shears are a must
Prune a mature forsythia bush to control its shape by clipping the ends of the branches and removing any broken or damaged parts. Thin out overgrown bushes by removing about 1/3 of the branches and cutting the canes just above ground level. Removing shoots opens up the interior of the plant, increasing air circulation and light penetration to stimulate new growth.
A good pruning is the prerequisite for the lush feast for the eyes next year
Cutting forsythia: winter pruning is also possible!
Prune plants in late winter before they burst into spring glory is also often recommended by some experienced gardeners. The rationale is simple: the bare structure of the plant is clearly visible before it sprouts, making it easier to shape. One can easily identify and remove dead and broken branches, cut off crossing sticks to prevent rubbing. Plus, it’s easier to get to the center of the plant to thin out weak and older shoots without having to reach through the leaves.
Good work is then rewarded with plenty of yellow flowers in spring
Then, when the flowers are in full bloom, you can cut off a few branches and bring them indoors
Bonus tip: Enjoy spring blooms in late winter!
Late February/early March is the ideal time to try flowering forsythia cuttings indoors. The reward is a vase full of bright yellow forsythia flowers to enjoy indoors. It takes about two to three weeks to force a forsythia cutting to flower.
And it’s so easy to do:
- Get some cuttings first. To do this, cut off several branches from a dormant plant using sharp pruning shears to get a clean cut. Make sure each cutting contains a number of buds and cut the stems into different lengths for variety.
- Dip the cut ends of the branches in a bucket of warm water. The cuttings need to absorb water before they can be made to flower. Scrape the bark off the bottom few inches. Using a sharp knife, make two or three vertical incisions from the bottom of the stem up.
Soon the buds will swell and slowly begin to open
- Soak the cuttings in cold water overnight. This allows them to absorb more water. Then stand them upright in a vase and add water. Some people like to add a few drops of bleach to the water, but we prefer lukewarm water straight from the tap. Change the water every few days to keep it clean and fresh. An aspirin tablet also works wonders.
- Place the vase in a cool place out of direct sunlight, e.g. B. in the basement or in the garage. Wrapping the cuttings in damp paper towels will help prevent the buds from drying out.
- When the buds begin to swell and change color, move the vase to a well-lit spot, but still avoid placing the cuttings in direct sunlight. The buds will soon burst open with a burst of colour.
Enjoy the fresh spring blossoms to the fullest!
The magnificent flowering branches are a joy-bringing eye-catcher for your own four walls
Forsythias are notable ornamental shrubs but are mildly poisonous
So these flowers are only to be enjoyed visually!
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