Forsythia Shrub Care

Forsythia Care

• Forsythias are low-maintenance shrubs. They can be grown in virtually any type of soil but will perform best when grown in well-drained soil. Adding peat moss, compost and manure will give the shrub a healthy start.

  While some smaller bush varieties are available, the majority of forsythia shrubs can grow extremely large so they require space to allow their cascading branches to arch towards the ground. Flowers will also bloom best in full sun.

Considerations

• Tender loving forsythia care can include a light application of an all-purpose fertilizer in early to mid-spring. A fertilizer that includes extra phosphorous will ensure bright yellow blooms. Forsythia can also benefit from watering during periods of drought. Mulching the ground will help to conserve moisture and add some nutrients to the ground as the mulch breaks down.

Pruning

• It given enough space, forsythia can be left untouched for years and will still flower, since it blooms on old wood. But pruning keeps the shrub's prolific growth in check. In fact, it is such a vigorous grower that it is quite difficult to actually harm the plant through excessive pruning.

  The shrub flowers on the previous year's growth so forsythia should be pruned immediately after the blooms have faded. The cascading shape of the canes is part of the plant's beauty so care should be taken to maintain this look. Prune out old, hard wood that looks dead and cut back some of the branches. Up to one quarter of the oldest stems can be removed without damaging the plant.

  If the shrub is completely overgrown, it can be cut back to the ground and will still put out new growth, although it may take a few years before flowering begins again.

Propagation

• New forsythia plants are easily propagated from softwood cuttings. In early spring, choose a new branch that is 4 to 6 inches long and place it in moist soil. Keep the soil moist and the cutting should root in a few weeks. Rooted cuttings can be transplanted at any time.

  Another way to acquire new plants is through ground layering. Take a supple branch from the shrub, bend it down toward the ground and pin it down. When it has taken root, in a few weeks, the plant can be severed and planted elsewhere.

Insects and Diseases

• Forsythia is rarely affected by any insects or diseases. Some pests that might attack the shrub include the four-lined bug, so called because it has black and yellow or green stripes.

  Galls, which are a type of fungus, may also be found periodically on the bushes. Any problems can be treated with insecticides or fungicides.