Pruning forsythia
Advice for August in the Netherlands
This advice covers forsythia or golden bells (Forsythia × intermedia), the yellow spring-flowering shrub.
Forsythia — August
Wait a little longer
Outside April and May you do not prune forsythia. The shrub sets next spring's flower buds soon after flowering, so any later prune costs flowers. Leave the branches and wait until straight after the next flowering.
Pay attention to this
- Wait until straight after flowering in April or May.
- Biggest mistake: pruning in winter or autumn, which removes the flower buds.
- Always allow for frost and for differences between species and positions: postpone pruning during prolonged frost or when night frost is forecast.
See exactly where to cut
With real hands-on videos in the SnoeiWijs Tuinclub.
Frequently asked questions
- When should you prune forsythia?
- Strictly straight after flowering, in April or May. First check that flowering is over and that pruning is really needed.
- Why not prune in winter?
- By then the shrub already carries next spring's flower buds; a winter or autumn prune cuts them away.
- How do I prune a forsythia that gets too big?
- Step in straight after flowering and keep the natural arching shape. We show exactly where to cut in the Tuinclub.