Forsythia flower shortage
By Majeekahead
essex,
England 
can anyone tell me the rules with regards to pruning Forsythia? i have a large bush that was here when we moved in 18 months ago. it was absolutely stunning last spring absolutely dripping with bright yellow flowers, i waited until the flowers all finished and then cut it back hard, as it was getting a bit unrully and thought that this was the right time to do it - just after flowering. it has grown back lovely all through last summer and is now a nice shape, it has had plently of work done on the soil, so should be very happy - but the flowers are very dissapointing! would this be because i cut back at the wrong time - or maybe it is 'sulking' because i was so drastic with it's hair cut?
On plant
Forsythia
11 Mar, 2008
Featured on:
forsythia
Answers
thanks Maple that would make perfect sence, i'll just give it a gentle hair cut this year as the flowers fade and see what happens!
11 Mar, 2008
Some shrubs react to a really heavy cutting back by throwing up lots of very tall, spindly growth (water shoots). Sometimes it is better to tackle an overgrown shrub over three years, taking out a third of the old wood each time, rather than in one "glorious encounter" (quote from the late, great Christopher Lloyd)
11 Mar, 2008
I CUT MY FORSYTHIA BACK HARD AT THE END OF FLOWERING LAST YEAR AND IT SEEMS TO BE DOING OK,HOPE YOU HAVE THE SAME LUCK AS ME ..SEEYA.
11 Mar, 2008
thank you everyone, and what you have said andrew about 'water shoots' would make perfect sense as it did grow back very leggy. i think i will do as advised and just give it a very light prune as the flowers fade and see what happens next year!
11 Mar, 2008
Andrew - Christopher Lloyd had such a way with words! He could conjure a mental picture in a couple of sentences what it takes the rest of us a page to do. You made me smile with that quote :o )
12 Mar, 2008
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From the books Forsythia only flowers on older wood. 1st year new wood will not flower so next year you should have a fine display.
Prune as the flowers are fading (before they fall) or you may be too late to prune. By pruning later you can interrupt the flowering cycle, hence no flowers the following year. Just light prune this year, if you feel you need to, then sit back and enjoy next years display
11 Mar, 2008