[mumofstig]

next door has a forsythia that was about 12ft high last year and blocking a lot of light from my garden. I asked if i could cut it back and they (not being gardeners) said do what you like. So i cut it back to the fence level in the winter.

Sadly to say that during the year it has grown back to almost the same height :shock:  :evil:
Now my question is: is there a better time of year to prune to keep it smaller, or do i just have to keep cutting it all through the year like a hedge?

Lesley

[mrs bouquet]

Hi there, you should actually avoid excessive pruning.  Immediately after it flowers. you can cut back those shoots which have got faded blooms on them.  Every few years you can shorten some of the most mature branches.
You can, of course, treat it as a hedge, but that will reduce its flowers and it will get conjested.  Good luck,  Mrs Bouquet

[richyrich7]

The more you prune the more vigorous the regrowth.

[mumofstig]

so basically i can't keep it short (ie 5ft fence) :cry:


Then i'll have to ask if i can take it out...............can't have too much shadow over me veggies. Already got enormous cherry tree on boundary :twisted:  :twisted:

[Trillium]

One thing you can do is to thin it. That is selective cutting out of some main branches deep into the bush.

[muntjac]

yeh like wot trill says .. wack out the middle trunks cut back all the other growth in spring when its started growing,,, this slows it right up hehehe,,, n then poison the rest

[mumofstig]

     :cry: Laughed so loud i cried.

like ur style munty :bom: That'd sort it out!

[mrs bouquet]

so basically i can't keep it short (ie 5ft fence) :cry:


Well you can, but it just won't flower    Mrs Bouquet