Forsythia

This is a question on behalf of an avid gardener in the office, but he's too old & stuck in his ways to venture into the wild world of the internet so im asking for him!! He has a forsythia shrub around 7-8ft tall which is around 27 years old. He is wanting to know when and how to prune it. Thanks!

 

A lot of people on GC didn't start using computer until they were "older" or even retired ... you'll have to work on him!

As for the Forsythia, you shouldn't hard prune them but perhaps he could cut it back a couple of feet to try to improve the shape. This should be done just after flowering.

 

Thanks Lady of leisure! he does use a computer but he wont venture far from the 2 websites he uses, and he wont be budged!!

 

You can prune Forsythia as hard as you choose, but do it as soon as it has finished flowering. It flowers mext year on brnaches it grows from now onwards. We have a really good display from one which was cut down to 12 inches from the ground last year.