Cutting back forsythia

[Owain Lloyd]

Hi
I was hoping someone may have some advise or tips on the best way to cut back the forsythia i have in my garden.

Thanks

 

[Owdboggy]

Bit late now, you would run the risk of removing the stems with flower buds on. The optimum time is when it has finished flowering. Then you remove all the stems which have flowered. This gives room for it to grow new shoots which will flower the following Spring.

 

[Marck]

Yes, Forsythia and most other Spring-flowering shrubs and trees are best pruned immediately after flowering, in order to for their to be sufficient time in summer to develop sufficient mature budwood for the following Spring. Actually another option to consider is to do some pruning during or immediately before flowering in order 'force' the branches indoors. Treat the stems as you would cut flowers by keeping them in tepid water and re cutting the stems underwater after harvesting.