So, you have enjoyed that massive display of golden yellow flowers only forsythia can give you in spring? Growing this shrub is like having the Sun shining in your garden! But what can you do to make sure that it will “rise again” and brighten up your days again next year? Well, to start with, you need to act fast!
In fact, there are a few things you need to do as soon as your forsythia has bloomed – this generous flowering shrub starts preparing straight away for next year’s spectacle – and it needs your help.
1: You MUST Prune Your Forsythia as Soon as It Has Flowered!
This is an absolute must! Never wait to prune your forsythia; you have to do it just after it has bloomed. Ok, you have a couple of weeks, but that’s the very maximum! And why? Because this shrub starts producing new flower buds soon after the old ones are spent.
What’s more, forsythia is a fast growing and vigorous flowering shrub, and you need to keep it in size for the rest of the season, especially in small gardens. Its leaves are fresh, bright green and dense, so they have their charm, but nothing compared to its floral display, and the branches can get too thick.
So, what do you need to do?
- To start with, you will need sharp and sterile pruning shears and loppers (for smaller and larger branches respectively).
- First of all, cut all the dead and damaged branches.
- Next, thin out the shrub, cutting branches that have grown too close.
- Keep upside branches at the top, and outward branches at the bottom.
- Prune back overgrown branches, those that are too long.
- Aim to cut 1/3 of the shrub.
In case your garden is small, or you can’t allow your forsythia to spread, I have a secret trick for you: only keep upside pointing branches! Or just a few of the others, but cut them back severely.
Clean away all the branches you have cut and your main task is over! Next…
2: Inspect Your Forsythia for Pests and Diseases
This is the best time to do it; later on, you will feel like you are in the jungle. But now, the new leaves are only starting, and the flowers have gone (sadly). Forsythia is quite a strong and healthy shrub, but it can catch some pests and diseases, mainly:
- Aphids; spray water (or water and neem oil) to get rid of them.
- Scale insects, scrape them off by hand.
- Spider mites; use water and neem oil with a dash of soap to solve the problem.
- Weevils; remove them by hand at night,and put nematodes in the soil to control the larvae.
That’s for pests, now, for diseases:
- Crown Gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens); a fungal infection that gives you tumor-like swollen growth at the base of stems. Cut and remove all the affected parts; then spray with neem oil, water and soap.
- Twig blight (Botryosphaeria canker); another fungal infection that causes branches to brown, wilt and die back. Prune off all the affected areas, and then spray with water, neem oil and soap.
Forsythia can also suffer from leaf spot, but it’s hard to see it at this time. Remember to disinfect your tools after you have cut each part, or you will spread the disease. What else do you need to do?
3: Clear the Soil at the Base of Your Forsythia
Weeds will grow fast and strong now that you have pruned your forsythia, so, “nip them in the bud”, while they are still young, tender, and easy to uproot.
Make sure that the soil at the base of your forsythia shrub is clean from weeds (or anything else that may have ended up there and you didn’t see when it was covered in blooms).
4: Fertilize Your Forsythia
Giving you that massive golden floral display so early in the season takes up an awful lot of energy, and it’s time to give your forsythia some long lasting and balanced food to pick up and start the “leafy season” in full strength.
Use a slow-release granular fertilizer with NPK 10-10-10 to feed your forsythia, or 1 to2 inches (2.5 to 5.0 cm) of compost all around the base of the shrub. And then…
5: Mulch Your Forsythia Shrub
After you have fed your forsythia, it’s time to protect the nutrients, humidity and temperature of the soil at its feet. So, lay 2 inches of mulch at the base of your shrub (5.0 cm). It doesn’t matter which type you use; it’s mainly an aesthetic choice, and a budget one, of course.
But in case you want some tips, we have a full article onwhich types of mulch to use where in your garden here.And finally…
6: Take Cuttings of Your Forsythia to Propagate It!
After your forsythia has blossomed, it’s the ideal time to propagate it by cuttings. Yes, because it is about to grow lots of leaves, and because it will have till fall to settle.
You can take forsythia cuttings from both softwood and hardwood, and you can even use the stems and branches you have pruned off, as long as they are healthy and strong.
Softwood cuttings should be green and flexible, hardwood ones about 1 cm thick (0.8 inches).
In both cases, take a cutting that’s 6 to 8 inches long (15 to 20 cm), make sure the cut is neat and dip it in a rooting agent (like apple cider vinegar) or hormone. Then…
For softwood cuttings:
- Take off all the leaves apart 2 to 4 at the top.
- Insert 2 to 3 inches(5.0 to 7.5 cm) of the cutting in well drained, fertile soil.
- Water and you can grow them both indoors and outdoors.
For hardwood cuttings:
- Take off all the leaves.
- Insert at least half of the cutting in well drained, fertile soil.
- They are best grown outdoors.
Done!
It’s So Easy to Get Forsythia to Bloom Again Next Year – as Long as You Follow These Steps!
Wasn’t that easy? Six little steps to take just after your forsythia has blossomed and it will bloom again next year like a sea of golden light!
Written By
Amber Noyes
Amber Noyes was born and raised in a suburban California town, San Mateo. She holds a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of California as well as a BS in Biology from the University of San Francisco. With experience working on an organic farm, water conservation research, farmers’ markets, and plant nursery, she understands what makes plants thrive and how we can better understand the connection between microclimate and plant health. When she’s not on the land, Amber loves informing people of new ideas/things related to gardening, especially organic gardening, houseplants, and growing plants in a small space.