Forsythia is also called Goldilocks because of its pretty yellow flowers. They grow in many gardens and are considered harbingers of spring. The shrubs are long-lived and undemanding. They require little maintenance. How to properly care for the forsythia.

Forsythia only needs to be watered when the leaves droop

Do forsythia need to be watered?

Watering is only necessary when the leaves are drooping. The soil must never dry out completely, but it must not be too moist either. Potted plants need to be watered more often.

Do Goldilocks need regular fertilizers?

Forsythia do not require any fertilizer at all. Putting some mature compost in the planting hole before planting is sufficient.

For forsythia in the bucket, occasional fertilizers do not hurt. It is even better to repot the plant in spring.

When to cut forsythia

  • Pruning after flowering
  • Rejuvenation pruning in winter / spring
  • trimming if necessary

Forsythia must be pruned at least every three years. Cut down all old shoots and thin out the bush.

Autumn pruning is not advisable as you will remove too many flowering branches.

What diseases and pests can occur?

Forsythia are almost disease resistant if the location is right. Fungal diseases appear on wet soils. The branches dry up and the flowers do not unfold. The roots also rot when waterlogged.

The only pest that occurs on forsythia are bedbugs. They suck out the leaves that are still rolled up, leaving ugly holes in their wake. Not much can be done about it. But this hardly harms the plant.

Does the forsythia need winter protection?

Forsythia are absolutely hardy. They survive even the lowest minus temperatures. Winter protection is only necessary if the forsythia was not planted in spring but only in autumn.

When caring for them in the bucket, you should place the pot on Styrofoam or other insulating material and, to be on the safe side, protect it from frost with foil.

If there is another sharp drop in temperature during the flowering period, the flowers will freeze to death. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent this.

tips and tricks

Forsythia is a hybrid. Their flowers contain neither pollen nor nectar, so the spring bloomers are uninteresting to bees and other insects. Forsythia is therefore not planted in semi-natural gardens.

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