It's a case of wrong plant, wrong place. In my own defense, I must explain that this Forsythia was here when I bought the house. It was nowhere near as large then. I have thinned it repeatedly, removing the old, thick stems at ground level. I cut it back again this Spring. Then, the August deluge came. The sump pump ejector tube is behind this plant. When it overflowed, the excess water got sucked up by the Forsythia. All that extra water resulted in this extra growth. The question is, do I cut it back now, sacrificing next year's blooms? Do I leave it to thwack against the house all Winter? Or do I try to remove it now? I don't like any of these options. In any event, this plant's days are numbered.
5 comments:
One starving musician came by to say: You won't be able to see out that window soon.
I'd say you cut it.
j.e.
I'd cut it half way back now and then finish it off in the spring. Then you might get to enjoy some blooms, maybe have a few branches to cut for forcing inside in the early spring.
It looks pretty big so I'd also do a little at a time so it won't seem so overwhelming.
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
Hi, j.elliot, thanks for stopping by. I think I'd better do something. I hope you get a gig soon.
Carol - the three-step program sounds like the way to go. Maybe I'll turn my husband loose on it with the loppers now & the chainsaw next Spring.
I have a suggestion that might work. Don't prune it yet (for one thing, that may prompt new growth that will be killed by frosts later this fall.) Instead, in the winter cut some branches starting in January; and bring them in and force them into bloom. Now, I don't know your climate well, but I'm guessing that from mid-January on you should be able to bring buds into bloom in 10-14 days indoors. Then come spring after the shrub has flowered, you can give it the trimming you want to shape it.
We also had a forsythia that wanted to eat the house. I cut it back seriously this spring after it flowered, and it's put on nice new growth, but not unmanageable. Plus there's still enough for me to be able to cut twigs in the winter when I need a floral boost.
By the way I finally got smart and added your blog to my links; and thank you for having done the same!
Jodi - Hi, thanks for visiting & adding my blog to your links. I have cut branches for forcing from this shrub because they were starting to hit the window. I have another Forsythia, so getting rid of this 1 won't deprive me of that shot of Spring yellow. I think I will leave enough to cut some for forcing this year.
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