- What is important when cutting the forsythia hedge
- The best time for pruning
- Form and care cut
- Rejuvenate forsythia in winter
- Where to put the forsythia shrub pruning?
- tips and tricks
Forsythia hedges are not only planted in spring because of the many yellow flowers. They should also form a dense privacy screen in summer. With the right pruning, you ensure that many leaves form after flowering.
Prune your forsythia hedge in winter or early spring
What is important when cutting the forsythia hedge
In order for the hedge to serve its purpose, leaves and spring blooms must grow in balance.
It is also important to ensure that the shrub does not become too lignified, because neither flowers nor leaves form on such shoots. These cuts are necessary to maintain the hedge:
- pruning
- topiary
- care cut
- taper cut
The best time for pruning
Forsythias tend to spread a lot. Regular pruning ensures that the shrub retains its shape.
It is best to cut back in May or June after flowering. As soon as the flowers turn brown, you can grab the hedge trimmers (€77.00). The forsythia then has enough time to form new shoots until the next flowering.
Cut out shoots that are too close together. You can also shorten branches that hang down too much.
Form and care cut
A forsythia hedge cannot be kept in check like other hedges. Shape cutting is possible at any time and is limited to shortening long overhanging branches.
When pruning, you constantly remove dead and diseased branches.
Rejuvenate forsythia in winter
To prevent the bushes from becoming too bare, a rejuvenation cut is necessary every two to three years.
It is best done in winter or very early spring.
Cut all heavily woody shoots back to the ground.
Where to put the forsythia shrub pruning?
Younger forsythia branches in particular are easy to chop. With the chopped shrubs, you can spread mulch on beds or under trees.
Dog and cat owners should not leave the cut branches lying around. Forsythia is slightly poisonous and can cause discomfort in sensitive animals.
tips and tricks
Forsythia is not suitable as a permanent privacy screen. The spring flowers are deciduous and lose all their leaves in winter. Therefore, only plant forsythia as a hedge where you want to be protected from prying eyes during the summer.