Forsythia in the fall: pruning, care, preparation for winter. How to plant and grow forsythia Forsythia care in the fall preparation for winter

The forsythia shrub is a real symbol of autumn: a sprawling tree with bright yellow flowers. Caring for this plant before the onset of cold weather is especially important in the conditions of Central Russia: forsythia needs pruning, feeding and shelter for the winter. It is not difficult to make them, and about that - right now.

The forsythia shrub is a real symbol of autumn: a sprawling tree with bright yellow flowers

Features of growing forsythia at home

In European countries, it is surprising if forsythia is not planted along the alley or in the square. It is a common plant in Central Europe. The tree is a symbol of the arrival of spring, because it is one of the first to bloom. It is happily grown in their yards, gardens and is actively used for decoration in landscape design by city dwellers.

An ornamental plant is undemanding to care and unpretentious in relation to the soil. Therefore, if you have tried to take care of forsythia in the fall, in the spring the tree will thank you with exuberant flowering.

Forsythia begins to dazzle with yellow flames when the gray streets have not yet woken up from the winter cold. The early flowering of the bushes is a property that distinguishes the plant from other green spaces.

So what are the characteristics of the plant, how to care for it, and what will it take to prune forsythia in the fall in order to grow a lush and healthy shrub that is popular with gardeners? Read on.

When to plant an ornamental plant

Planting and transplanting of bushes are carried out in spring or early autumn, before the first frost appears, so that forsythia has time to take root before the cold weather. The best place to grow is a sunny or semi-shaded area sheltered from the wind. Forsythia may be shade-tolerant, but what a wildly flowering plant does not like light!

Bushes can be planted on any type of soil, but forsythia takes root best on slightly alkaline dry soil. If there is soil with high acidity on the site, then dig it up with wood ash before planting seedlings.

Preparing holes for landing

Before placing the seedlings in the ground, drainage (broken brick, crushed stone) 15 cm thick is poured on the bottom of the hole, on top - a mixture of leaf earth, sand and peat in a ratio of 2: 1: 1, supplemented with wood ash (no more than 200 g). Seedlings are placed in the hole, buried in. The near-barrel part must be compacted and watered abundantly with water.

Important! Pruning forsythia in the fall concerns not only adult trees, but also planting material, because the seedlings are pre-cleaned.

Plants planted in the springtime require regular maintenance in the future.

Pruning forsythia in the fall, planting and caring for plants is different from those that are carried out after winter. In this case, it is imperative to mulch the site, regardless of the type of plant planted. The covering material should be selected taking into account air permeability, so that in winter, during periods of thaw, flower buds do not lie under the "hood".

Forsythia: planting and care

Where to plant

Basically, the choice of a place for planting forsythia depends on what type of plant you plan to plant. The fact is that not all types of forsythia are able to withstand severe winter frosts. Of course, try to acquire the species that are maximally adapted to the conditions of your region.But in any case, plant forsythia in a place well protected from the wind. This shrub is very light-loving, and it is in the sun that it is shown in all its glory. But if it suddenly turns out that it is impossible to plant forsythia in a sunny place, then it's okay. Light partial shade will not hurt her.

Forsythia does not present supernatural conditions to the soil. But still, the earth should be light, loose. The water at the planting site should not stagnate. There are many types and varieties of forsythia. Among them there are quite tall, large specimens. Therefore, allocate space for them, taking into account further growth.

Preparing for landing

No matter how good the soil is in your chosen spot, it is still best to prepare it first. If the soil is heavy and acidic, then this must be done. Usually, a landing pit for planting forsythia is dug out according to the 60X60 scheme and a depth of 70 centimeters. But you can be guided by the size of the root system of the seedling.

The soil taken out of the hole is replaced with the following mixture:

Leafy ground - one piece. In some cases, the excavated earth is also used in this capacity.
Humus - one part. Moreover, it must be well rotted. It can be replaced with greenhouse soil.
Sand - two parts. Of course, river sand is best, but it is not always possible to get it. Therefore, if you use a construction one, then it should be as light as possible, without a reddish tint and as large as possible.

To reduce the acidity of the soil (if you are not), add 0.3 - 0.4 kilograms of wood ash to the mixture, or, in extreme cases, slaked lime.

First of all, it is imperative to create a drainage layer at the bottom of the fossa. Forsythia bushes, especially young ones, do not tolerate waterlogging very well. In addition to this, good drainage will allow the roots to take root better in the ground. First, fill in a layer of broken brick, about 20 centimeters. Pour a 10 cm layer of sand on the brick.

Landing technology

Usually they are planted in mid-autumn, but sometimes they are planted in spring, after flowering ends.

Pour some earth on the prepared drainage, a mound. Place a seedling on it and distribute its roots along the slopes of an earthen mound. Now you can fill in the rest of the earth.

After planting, water the seedling abundantly and, if necessary, top up the soil. In order to keep moisture longer, around the bush.

Important! In the first year, forsythia MUST be covered for the winter. Before the onset of cold weather, tilt the seedling to the ground and fix it in this position. Then cover it up. To cover forsythia for the winter, use either a special covering material or ordinary pine spruce branches. If neither one nor the other is available, you can use sawdust, compost, fallen leaves.

Forsythia care rules

Caring for a plant is practically no different from the classic caring scheme for any other bush or tree. If there is enough rainfall in the summer, then there is no need to organize watering. Forsythia gets enough water and moisture from the atmosphere. In dry season, the bushes are watered 1-2 times a month at the rate of 10-15 liters of water for each plant.

Watering the trees, under them the soil is loosened to the depth of the bayonet of the garden shovel, and weeds are removed. Such simple actions provide free air access to the plant roots. After loosening, the area around the trunk of the bush is mulched using compost or dry soil.

Fertilizers for forsythia are applied three times per season:

With the onset of spring, rotted manure is spread in a thick layer along the near-trunk circle, stepping back about 3-5 cm from the trunk itself. After - watered abundantly. Manure simultaneously performs two tasks: it feeds the bush with organic substances, and acts as a mulch.
During the April flowering, a complex of mineral fertilizers is applied: 60-70 grams per 1 m 2.
At the end of the flowering period, when the plant lays flower buds for the next year, Kemiru-universal is used for feeding: 110 grams per 1 m 2.

Pruning forsythia

Pruning forsythia in the fall will seem difficult for beginners, but these are just general rules for caring for a plant.

Young bushes lend themselves only to sanitary cleaning. At the same time, frozen, shriveled, broken shoots are removed. In adult bushes and trees, with the onset of the spring thaw, the tips of the branches affected by frost are cut off. The main pruning will take place in the summer, after the forsythia has faded: the branches are cut in half, old and dead branches and shoots are cut off, leaving 4-6 cm from the soil level (base of the trunk).

When to prune forsythia

Forsythia is a fast growing ornamental crop. It has the shape of a bush with multiple shoots. Therefore, its pruning is one of the important growing conditions.

Under natural conditions, forsythia grows up to two meters wide and three meters high. But as a landscape decoration, the growth of the bush is limited to 1.0-1.5 m.

Correction of the size and formation of the plant begins immediately after planting.

Fortification after formation

Usually the plant is pruned after flowering. Such pruning is used for a well-groomed bush.

Pruning before flowering is also possible. It is held in the first ten days of April or in the last ten days of March. At this time, leaves have not yet formed on the branches and the bush is clearly visible. The damaged branches and shoots thickening it are clearly visible.

If the forsythia is in a very poor condition, you can cut it off during flowering.

But such pruning will not bring much benefit to the plant. During this period, it is most vulnerable to diseases and pests. And the places of the cut can cause infection of the bush with diseases and harmful insects.

The main pruning of the bush is carried out in the fall, at the very beginning. But don't cut too many shoots. This can significantly reduce the plant's immunity in winter.

If it is not possible to regularly prune the forsythia bush, you can grow special dwarf varieties on your site.

Such bushes grow very slowly, and their height practically does not exceed one meter. Dwarf species need exclusively supportive and sanitary pruning.

Annual main pruning is not required for these species. Shoots are shortened by one third every three years. If desired, a ball-shaped bush is formed.

Pruning forsythia can seem daunting. But it is quite possible to carry out this procedure on your own. Do not be afraid to spoil the bush, because new shoots grow very quickly.

Expert opinion

Yulia Yurievna

I have a large garden and vegetable garden, several greenhouses. I love modern methods of plant cultivation and soil mulching, I share my experience.

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When choosing the time to prune forsythia, it is important to remember that the plant needs a certain period of recovery. With autumn pruning, the procedure should be carried out at least two weeks before a significant cold snap. When preparing for the procedure, it is important to disinfect and, if necessary, sharpen the secateurs. Larger, not very young shrubs may require a lopper and a hacksaw. If large branches are removed, it is better to process the cut with garden pitch. So that the culture does not become infected with fungal diseases or softened, rotten areas on the crown do not appear, branches should be removed only in dry weather. It is advisable to choose a time so that there will be no precipitation in the next few days. Correct pruning should stimulate the appearance of growth and abundant flowering, and heal the plant.In conditions of a thickened crown, when not all branches receive enough sunlight and the air does not circulate well, diseases develop more often. In the process of pruning, it is important to take into account that the described bush blooms only on last year's branches. Their intensive removal will reduce the decorative effect of forsythia.

How to approach the procedure correctly

Pruning European forsythia is an important stage in plant care, affecting the further development and flowering of bushes. If you have not yet had to deal with such a procedure, and you have little experience in removing wilting shoots, leave the cleaning for the summer. The end of flowering means that you can start cutting branches.

Autumn pruning of forsythia can negatively say in spring flowering - the buds simply will not bloom. Therefore, it is better if you do not have experience with garden plants, leave this business for the summer or seek help from a gardener.

Off-season pruning involves cleaning the bush from branches that are over-thickening the central part of the plant. In the future, this procedure is carried out in order to update the decorative shape of the bush, if the shoots are knocked out of the crown ball.

Pruning forsythia in the fall is a way to get rid of excess and damaged branches. When carrying out the procedure, make sure that it is not too intense, so do not get too carried away. Cutting off too many shoots, even if they are superfluous, will weaken the plant and its immune system before frost.

Another important nuance that you need to know when planning pruning forsythia for the winter: carry out the procedure at the beginning of autumn so that the slices have time to heal by the onset of cold weather.

Bush pruning technology

In some cases, pruning of bushes is carried out in the spring, even before flowering. Examine the bush carefully to identify broken, frozen, or damaged shoots and remove them. Pay special attention to the tips of the branches of the ornamental plant - they most often suffer from cold weather. By performing the procedure correctly and removing a moderate amount of weak branches, you will ensure that pruning does not negatively affect flowering, but only contributes to its activity.

Gardeners recommend cutting the shoots in half immediately after flowering. The peculiarity of the procedure is that the pruning is carried out either on the side branch, or over the strongest bud on the branch.

When cleaning old shoots of forsythia bushes, it is better not to cut them off completely, but cut them off, leaving a small protrusion. This pruning will stimulate the new growth of strong young shoots, which will later form the lush crown of the plant.

Forsythy trimming scheme

The pruning scheme is not complicated. Usually young, highly branched shoots are shortened by about 1/3. The old ones are removed almost completely, but only in the spring, since new buds are laid on them in the fall. After postponing the procedure to September, next year you can not wait for a violent flowering.

Those of the branches that spread along the ground or come into contact with it must be removed. Such shoots can give new roots and germinate into the ground. Once every four years, the shrub is completely rejuvenated in order to prolong its life and renew the crown. When pruning, all old shoots are cut at the root, leaving up to 5 young healthy shoots.

Forsythia is an ornamental plant of unsurpassed beauty, giving joy and delight from the contemplation of the bright type of bushes that decorate and revitalize the territory adjacent to the house, a summer cottage, an alley.

What you need to know about the winter hardiness of forsythia

Winter hardiness is rightfully considered one of the most important characteristics of any perennial plant. As for forsythia, there is no unequivocal answer about the hardiness of the culture, since this species has several varieties with different characteristics of resistance to cold.

The most unpretentious, not requiring shelter for the winter, are considered oval forsythia, drooping and Siebold.Other varieties are not resistant to frost, and require careful preparation for wintering in the fall:

European forsythia is not suitable for growing in open ground in the middle zone, since in the cold season it requires keeping in a room with a positive temperature;
Giralda, given the Chinese origin of the variety, can grow in open ground without insulation only in the southern regions;
medium forsythia is often found in temperate climates, but for the winter the plant is transferred indoors.

Reproduction

The plant propagates quite simply - by layering, cuttings, and less often by seeds.

Layers

This method is most often used because of its simplicity.

If a forsythia branches bend to the ground

, and they will come into contact with it for a long time, then they will soon take root themselves.

But it is better to monitor the reproduction yourself and choose the best branch, bending it to the ground and digging it in.

It is necessary to cut the bark in the place where the branch is dug. In the spring, when the shoot takes root, it can be transplanted from the main bush to another location.

In a year, the young forsythia will bloom.

Cuttings

This method is also quite simple. Can multiply lignified and young shoots

... Young green cuttings are cut in early summer.

To begin with, they are kept in a solution from the root for some time, they are planted with a priest in specially prepared soil and covered with a film so that create greenhouse conditions

Already in the fall, the cutting will take root and take root well.

At this time, it can be assigned to a permanent place and covered with a ball of dry foliage for the winter.

Lignified cuttings for planting are cut in the fall. Their length should be up to 18 cm. They are planted in the ground 10 cm deep. Several buds are left on the surface. In order for the plant to overwinter, it is covered with dry leaves.

Seeds

This method is rarely used. The percentage of seed germination in the region of 40%. Them sown in boxes with soil in spring

... The first shoots appear in a month.

For a year, young shoots grow up to 6 cm. In the second year they can grow up to 30 cm, they can already be planted in open ground and left to winter under a thick layer of leaves.

The first flowering of such a shrub occurs in the 4-6th year of life.

Forsythia is a good option for gardeners and summer residents. With this shrub, you can create a vibrant colorful fence. In addition, by giving it the desired decorative shape, you can organically fit it into the landscape design of any site.

Golden spots of blooming forsythia serve as the first bright decoration of the April garden, a harbinger of warmth and spring comfort. In order for this beautifully flowering shrub, which is popularly called "golden bell" or "golden willow", to please us with its flowering next year, it needs, first of all, to choose the right place in the garden and make pruning in time. Forsythia prefers sunny, sheltered from the wind, places, but also withstands partial shade, loves fertile soil with a sufficient lime content.

The timing and method of pruning promotes flowering

Experts recommend pruning every three years in order to prevent general aging of the bush, as well as to keep the crown from losing its shape. In shrubs from two to three meters in height, flower buds are formed on the shoots of the last year. There are no flowers on old shoots. Therefore, the most appropriate time for the main pruning is the second half of spring, at the end of the flowering period. First, thinning the bush is carried out, cutting out old branches close to the ground. If there are many side shoots on the branch below, it is cut off above them. In forsythia with mesotonic branching, the strongest lateral branches are formed mainly in the middle part of the maternal shoot. However, in its upper part, more intensive branching is observed, which leads to an arcuate bending of the branch.Also, long shoots appear directly near the highest point of the arc on the upper side of the branch.

Despite the fact that this plant is used primarily as a tapeworm or in mono-planting on the lawn, thanks to a certain pruning technique, a hedge can be formed from it. In this case, pruning should be carried out no earlier than June, so that the bushes sprout more intensively. Don't rush to throw away the cut branches - they can be used for propagation! Select green cuttings up to 20 cm long, remove the lower leaves from them and plant the cuttings for rooting under a greenhouse in perlite or sand. Thus, you will receive forsythia seedlings, which, after rooting, can be planted in the garden.

Regular pruning prevents the bush from being exposed

Even if you prefer to decorate your garden with plants with a natural crown or bush shape, forsythia must still be cut to make it look naturally tidy. Because without pruning, the upward-facing shoots get longer and stronger while the middle thickens quickly. All this leads to the fact that the base of the bush is bare and the plant blooms only at the ends of the branches. In such conditions, the splendor of flowering also decreases, the flowers lose their decorative effect. With regular, which should be carried out every two to three years, forsythia will feel great and will thank you not only with a beautiful view, but also with abundant flowering.

To do this, you should carry out a growth-inhibiting pruning. As part of this event, old and heavily branched branches should be cut into stumps. The cut should be diagonal and over the outer kidney. You should also cut off by a third of the length and basal shoots growing from the base of the bush. Strongly hanging branches can also be shortened, thus reducing the crown of the plant.

To thin out the forsythia bush, it is necessary to cut the oldest branches "on a stump".

Rejuvenating pruning gives the forsythia a compact shape and decorative effect

Anyone who does not maintain the shape of golden forsythia bushes by regular pruning is likely to get real thickets of leafless branches and poor flowering. To remedy this situation and make the old bush again dazzle with golden-yellow tints, it is necessary to carry out a radical rejuvenating pruning. The most favorable time for such pruning is early spring before flowering begins. In the first year of rejuvenating pruning, four to five strong shoots are left in the old shrub, the rest are cut "on a stump". This contributes to the rapid regrowth of new shoots.

Next year, before the buds bloom, all the shoots that have grown over the past summer should be thinned out: remove the underdeveloped shoots, shorten the rest. Such pruning will be really effective if you make separate branches of different lengths. Thus, you get the corresponding branched crown. Finally, it is necessary to completely cut four or five shoots that you left from last year to ground level. In the third year, the first shoots should bloom, and the plant as a whole will take on a healthy look.

Dwarf forsythia need special care

If there is no room in your garden for a spreading forsythia shrub, this is not a reason to give up a plant that fills the garden with sunlight and thereby creates a festive mood. At local nurseries, ask for dwarf varieties such as Arnolds Dwarf, Happy Centennial, Marée d'Or or Bronxensis. Such plants grow rather slowly, barely reaching one meter in height. Unlike ordinary forsythia varieties, in dwarf forms, shoots with short internodes and strongly thickening the bush are shortened quite a bit. Thus, there is no need for major pruning. But this does not mean that dwarf forsythia will not benefit from regular shortening of shoots by one third, carried out every two to three years.This event is effective if it is carried out immediately after flowering and contributes to the fact that the plant stays healthy longer and pleases us with its sunny golden flowering every spring.

Prune long shoots regularly.

Translation: Lesya V. specially for the Internet portal of the garden

One of the most important characteristics of any perennial is its ability to tolerate low temperatures. In the case of foresight, an unambiguous conclusion cannot be drawn, since the species is represented by several breeding varieties, the winter hardiness of which varies. The most hardy are Forsythia Egg-shaped (Oval), Siebold and Poniklaya. The rest of the subspecies are not sufficiently resistant to frost and snow, therefore, they need additional preparatory procedures before the onset of cold weather. Winter hardiness of some other varieties:

Forzition European - not suitable for central Russia, in winter it needs a room that does not freeze;
Forsythia Giralda - came from North China. This variety can be grown without insulation only in the southern part of Russia;
Forsythia is average - often bred in the middle lane with a temperate climate, but it does not have a high frost resistance. To prevent the death of the plant, it is placed in a cool place in a large pot;
Forsythia Greenest - suitable for cultivation exclusively in the southern regions.

Almost all species, even winter-hardy ones, need shelter for the period of cold weather, when it comes to regions such as Siberia and the Urals.

Video: "How to cover shrubs for the winter"

From this video you will learn how to properly cover the shrub for the winter.

You need to trim in accordance with the following requirements:

remove all damaged or dead branches;
get rid of unnecessarily long shoots that clearly stand out from the overall picture;
remove those shoots that are located as close to the surface of the earth as possible;
cut off those branches that grow in the center of the crown, as well as those that are too close to each other.

Do not forget that the tree needs pruning every year.

Shelter and mulching

It is necessary to protect forsythia from cold weather regularly, regardless of age and even plant variety. The first step is to mulch the near-trunk zone - for this they use humus, laying it in a thick layer, at least 10 cm.After that, you can start organizing a shelter for the entire bush: carefully bend the branches to the ground and cover them with spruce branches, cover them with dry leaves or cover them with any suitable insulating material.

Try to fix the branches to the surface of the ground before the frosts come, otherwise the shoots will lose pliability. In the spring, when the last return frosts have passed, the covering layer can be removed and the bush can be freed - now it is ready to bloom again. Be sure to cover even those varieties of forsythia that are considered cold-resistant, because you never know how severe the winter will be.

Watering and fertilizing

Forsythia belongs to those crops that do not differ in exactingness to frequent watering - on the contrary, it does not tolerate excessive moisture, so you do not need to worry about moisture in the fall. For the rest of the time, one watering per month will be enough for the tree, while for each plant you need to spend about 12 liters of water.

You can feed the bush with a complex mineral fertilizer at the rate of 70 g of top dressing for each square meter of soil. It is necessary to carry out the procedure before proceeding with mulching.

Some gardeners practice additional fertilizing with phosphorus and potassium to give the plant extra strength before wintering.

Forsythia shrub: planting and care

To decorate your garden with golden and delicately blooming forsythia, it is enough to take a few cuttings left after pruning. It is advisable to choose the strongest and most promising ones.Due to the low percentage of germination of shrub seeds, the seed method of plant propagation is practiced much less often.

For planting, it is better to use

cuttings after spring and summer pruning - they take root much faster. For the winter, young sprouts are certainly covered with dry leaves or spruce branches.

Another breeding method is layering

... For gardeners, it is the most hassle-free: press the branch to the ground and cut the bark a little. Thanks to the cut, the twig will take root faster.

Forsythia are very light-requiring

but withstand slight shading. Therefore, choose a planting site carefully: the more it is flooded with the sun, the better the shrub will develop. It is great if the place chosen for the permanent "residence" of the forsight will also be protected from the wind.

The soil

for growing a forsythia bush, it must be sufficiently loose and permeable. When planting in a hole, add a little sand and humus, this will help the young plant to “grip” the ground more firmly. It's great if there is a scoop of wood ash, forsythia responds very well to such fertilization.

Stick to the parameters of the planting pit: 60x70 cm. Do not overmoisten the soil, the golden oriental shrub tolerates drought more easily than moisture.

Pruning

No trimming

forsythia bush can quickly lose its attractive appearance, does not bloom so well, stretches and shaggy.

Prune branches immediately after flowering.

, but not too zealous - leave the shoots younger and remove the old (four-year-old). It is noticed that old branches bloom very hard and little, or even do not bloom at all. Naturally, these are not suitable for reproduction.

Older shoots can be identified by their branching and how low they bent to the ground.

Shelter for the winter

Preparing for the winter forsythia. Even the tested frost-resistant varieties of forsythia are a must need to be insulated for the winter

heaps of dry leaves or needles.

Young branches are especially tender and if they freeze in the cold, then in the spring they will not be able to bloom fully.

Before insulating, the branches of the bush must be pressed tightly to the ground, and then covered.

Winter preparation and shelter

In the first year of life, the plant does not need pruning. But procedures such as mulching and sheltering the plant, the features of which have been described above, are absolutely necessary. It is vitally important to protect not only the roots, but the entire plant from the cold, otherwise its chances of survival in winter conditions will tend to zero. Another important nuance is the use of breathable materials for shelter, otherwise the plant may rot, and its buds may vanish during short-term thaws.

Having done everything right, you can not worry about your garden beauty: reliably protected from the cold, she will patiently wait for the arrival of spring in order to please you with her flowering again.

The forsythia shrub is a real symbol of autumn: a sprawling tree with bright yellow flowers

Analysis of forsythia types

European forsythia (Forsythia europae). This view is more suitable not for the middle zone, but for the south of Russia. In nature, it grows in southeastern Europe (in Albania), forming thickets on the slopes of the mountains. An upright shrub with a height of 2 m and more with dark green leaves has single golden-yellow bell-shaped large flowers. Numerous varieties of forsythia of this species have been bred. The rooting rate of spring and summer cuttings is almost 100% (with the use of stimulants).

It is clear that this type of forsythia is not suitable for the Moscow region. Unless you grow it in a container that will be kept in a frost-free room in winter. Consider the rest of the species that are native to East Asia.

Forsythia Giralda (Forsythia giraldiana Lingelsh). Although the winter hardiness of this species from North China is above average, without warming it can be grown only in the southern regions of Russia. Outwardly, it resembles European forsythia. A bush up to two meters in height blooms profusely from 5 years. Leaves are dark green up to 10 cm long. Flowering lasts for 20 days (end of April - May). The flowers are light yellow, rather large, with slightly twisted petals. It propagates most easily by summer and winter cuttings.

Forsythia ovoid, or oval (Forsythia ovate Nakai) - the most winter hardy in the temperate zone of Russia. It is a short (1.5 - 2 m) shrub with yellowish gray bark. Bright yellow, single, medium-sized flowers appear in 17 to 20 days. Juicy green leaves turn purple-orange in autumn. The advantage of the species is drought resistance. This species blooms earlier than other forsythia species. Suitable for growing in the Moscow region. It hibernates without shelter, risking losing only the ends of young shoots in the coldest winters.

It is worth noting the undersized garden form with a height of only one meter, "Tetragold"... Dark yellow flowers (about 3.5 cm in diameter) of this baby appear early enough. There is another new variety "Melisa"... A compact shrub with golden yellow flowers does not take up much space.

Hanging forsythia (Forsythia suspense) is a species that is more often grown in the temperate zone of Russia. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, it hibernates only under cover or snow cover. It grows without insulation in most of Ukraine (especially in the Crimea), in the Caucasus and in Central Asia. Found in the wild in North and Central China. The shrub has a wide spreading crown. Thin, tetrahedral olive or reddish-brown branches drooping, curved in an arc. Golden yellow flowers are large enough, they are single or collected in bunches (up to 6 pcs.). In the Moscow region in the fall, you need to bend the flexible branches of forsythia of this species to the ground.

Forsythia Siebold (Forsythia Sieboldii) is the most frost-resistant form. A low-growing shrub with drooping (or creeping) thin shoots tolerates light shading. The flowers are dark yellow with petals bent back. There are other beautiful decorative forms of this type, for example, motley forsythia (Forsythia variegate) with yellow-variegated leaves and intense yellow flowers. Forsythia hanging "Fortune" (Forsythia suspense "Fortune") is a shrub with creeping shoots (up to 3 m long), blooms only by 5 - 6 years, and flowering is not always annual. It lasts 18 days. Winter hardiness of this forsythia is very low.

Intermediate forsion, or average, (Forsythia x intermedia) is often grown in central Russia. This is a hybrid forsythia dark green and forsia dangling (Forsythia viridissima x Forsythia suspenca). Shrub (up to 3 m tall) with sprawling straight or slightly drooping shoots. Leaves are oblong (up to 10 cm long), serrated along the edges. Golden yellow flowers are collected together in several pieces. Flowering for 18 days in late April - May. It was this forsythia that froze out all the time in our area above the snow level, proving its not the best frost resistance. I heard that the bush can be kept in large pots, putting them in a cool room for the winter. The rooting rate of spring and summer cuttings of this forsythia is very high. It was enough to leave the cut branches in a damp shady place, and they began to form roots.

Forsythia densely colored (Forsythia densiflora) with spreading branches and pale yellow strongly twisted flowers gave many decorative garden forms. The best one is forsythia is wonderful (Forsythia spectabilis) with bright yellow large (up to 4 cm) flowers, collected in bunches of 4 - 6 pieces. Have forsythia primrose (Forsythia pumulina) flowers have wavy edges of the petals. Most of the flowers are closer to the base of the shoots.

Planting technology forsythia in autumn

In almost all cases, the seedlings of this plant are planted in the autumn - in the first half of September. First of all, it is important to choose the location For this, several nuances are taken into account:

Basically, you need to focus on the characteristics of a particular variety, which can be very different from each other.
In general, forsythia love places that are open to the sun and inaccessible to the wind.
In terms of soil composition, this shrub prefers neutral and light soils. If the soil is too acidic, ash should be added at the rate of 300-400 g per m2. Too heavy soil must be dug up first.
Finally, you need to take care of the design of the garden; in addition, it is important to understand that forsythia grows a lot, so you should not skimp on the size of the space.

How to care for forsythia (video)

The composition of the "soil with which the hole is covered is selected from the following components:

part of humus;
a piece of leafy land;
2 pieces of sand.

A hole is dug in a diameter of 60 cm (depth up to 70 cm), while you need to be guided by the fact that the roots of the seedling lie freely in it. The pit is drained quite strongly - you need to fill in at least 5-7 cm of crushed stone or broken brick. After that, the seedling is placed, covered with the mixture and watered with a standard 10-liter bucket of water.

NOTE

The distance between the pits depends on the variety, but the minimum is 1 meter (on average about 2 meters).

In almost all cases, forsythia seedlings are planted in the autumn period - in the first half of September.

Features of preparing forsythia for winter

In order to properly prepare the shrub for the winter period, you need to take into account a few simple rules for pruning, sheltering forsythia and other measures to guarantee successful wintering.

Autumn pruning forsythia

Any gardener who decides to grow this attractive shrub should have the skills of pruning forsythia, because it is thanks to this procedure that you can constantly maintain its lush, attractive shape. And autumn pruning also serves as an additional measure to preserve the plant during the winter period. The pruning technology during this period is quite simple:

First of all, dead branches are removed, dried, with cracked bark, as well as shoots that are too long, which stand out significantly against the general background.
Next, remove all branches that are too close to the ground. Although a few of them can be left to root and propagate by layering (for more details, see the corresponding section). Then transplant the offspring, and remove the rest of the shoot.
All branches that grow towards the center, as well as intertwining, located too close, are also removed completely: they will interfere with each other and spoil the overall appearance.

Reproduction by layering

Autumn is the best time not only for planting young seedlings. This is the best and most favorable period for independent "production" of planting material. It is in the fall that you can propagate forsythia using cuttings in order to get full-fledged seedlings by spring. See below for how to do it.

Algorithm for reproduction by layering

We select one or more shoots, the growth of which begins closer to the ground line.
We pull the edges of the selected twigs using ordinary wire.
On the other side of the branch (or branches), which will be immersed in the ground, we make several parallel transverse cuts with a sharp knife.
We fix the shoot and sprinkle it with earth on top.

Propagation of forsythia by layering is a very effective way. If you do everything according to the described algorithm, then the branches that you bend to the ground will very quickly release the roots and begin to develop their personal root system. In the spring (if you decide to plant a young plant during this period), the seedling can be carefully disconnected from the mother bush and planted in a new place. If spring planting isn't an option for your area, just wait until fall.

Exactly one year later, the cuttings obtained in this way and detached from the mother bush will begin to bloom.

Forsythia breeding technology in autumn

Most often, forsythia is propagated vegetatively and precisely in the spring. However, if you do this in the fall, the bush has every chance to take root.In this case, we are talking about a method for propagating forsythia using layering. The scheme is quite simple and does not take much time:

First of all, you need to take into account that reproduction in the autumn period takes place in early September (for the southern regions it is possible at the end of September), so that the shoot has enough time in stock to take root (3-4 weeks). You can also try this technology in July or August.
First, the lowest (preferably young) shoot is bent to the ground, and a wire is wound at its base, which will additionally hold the branch in this position.
The layering is sprinkled with soil - preferably fertile. If the soil is poor, add some humus or compost.
The bark is cut from the side that is pressed to the soil and left in this form for the winter.

If you take into account all the rules, it is quite simple to propagate forsythia by layering: in the spring, the overgrown branch is completely cut off from the mother bush, making oblique cuts at the very base. Experience shows that forsythia blooms the next season.

Propagating forsythia by layering is quite simple.

NOTE

Along with propagation by layering, the technology of cuttings can also be implemented. At the end of September, lignified cuttings are cut and planted immediately in open ground. A few buds should be left above the ground. So that the cuttings do not suffer from frost, they are sprinkled with a layer of fallen leaves (10-15 cm).

Planting forsythia seedlings

Suppose that an ornamental shrub with sunny yellow flowers is not yet growing in your country house, and you are just planning to plant it. Early autumn is the best time to plant a seedling outdoors. In fact, in some regions of Eastern Europe, you can plant forsythia in the spring. But Ukraine does not belong to such regions, as it usually has a rather hot summer, which is quite difficult to predict. If the summer is cool, you can really plant forsythia in the spring. If it is hot, an autumn planting will be the only option.

Algorithm for autumn planting forsythia

We prepare a plot for planting forsythia: we dig it up and remove from the ground the root system of the plants that have lodged in it, as well as weeds.
We dig one or several pits (depending on how many ornamental shrubs you plan to plant). Each pit must be square. The optimal size is 60 cm by 60 cm.
Be sure to keep the distance between the planting pits so that the growing shrubs do not interfere with each other's development and do not crowd out the neighbors. The minimum distance between the pits is two meters, the maximum is three. More is not necessary.
We form drainage. For this we use broken brick or expanded clay, as well as any other suitable materials that are at your fingertips.
Pour 0.2 kg of wood ash and exactly the same amount of slaked lime onto the drainage layer to fertilize the planting soil.
We deepen the seedling into the planting pit by a maximum of 0.8 meters (minimum - 0.7 meters).
We fill a quarter of the hole with the same material with which we created the drainage layer.
We fill the remaining space with fertile soil.

After completing the planting process, experts recommend manually compacting the earth around the forsythia stem and thoroughly, sparing no water, water the new inhabitant of your personal plot.

Autumn planting of forsythia seedlings implies the obligatory mulching of the trunk circle. For this, you can use tree bark, sawdust, dry leaves, or other materials.

Winter-hardy varieties of forsythia for the Moscow region

For the climatic conditions of the Moscow region, winter-hardy varieties of forsythia should be selected:

Egg-shaped (oval) - the most suitable option, which differs not only in resistance to cold, but also to drought.It grows up to 2 meters in height, it is distinguished by a gray bark with a yellowish tinge. It blooms for 15-20 days. Moreover, by autumn, the leaves turn from bright green to orange. It is interesting that many gardeners do not even cover it for the winter, but it is better to cover young seedlings with spunbond.
A variation of the previous variety - Tetragold - also has increased winter hardiness. This species is suitable for lovers of miniature, lush plantings, since it grows no more than 1 meter.
Similar in properties to the Tetragold, recently bred variety "Melisa" it is compact - it is well suited for small areas.
Forsythia Siebold also tolerates winter very well, so it does not need additional shelter - just mulching the trunk is enough. The shrub is undersized, its shoots spread along the ground. Prefers light shading rather than open areas.
Forsythia drooping - a fairly tall shrub that grows up to 3 meters. But its flowering begins only after 5 years. The shoots are very interesting - they have an unusual olive or brown color. It needs to bend the branches to the ground - in the conditions of the Moscow region, they can freeze a little.
Intermediate forsion has about the same height, but begins to bloom from the age of 3. This variety is very often used by gardeners to form a hedge. It does not need additional shelter for the winter.

How to properly prune a forsythia bush

Pruning forsythia depends on the purpose of its cultivation. Bushes are usually planted as a separate decorative element in landscaping or as a bright hedge.

If the plant forms as a single bush, the first pruning is done after planting it in the open ground. All weak shoots are removed. In the first 2-3 years, pruning of such a plant consists in removing frozen and damaged branches under the root.

Further, the main pruning is carried out in the summer. Faded twigs are shortened by half. All damaged shoots are cut 6-7 cm from the ground. This is necessary to thicken the plant. Subsequently, young shoots are formed on these stumps.

The main stages of plant pruning:

Removing all old branches at the root ¼
Cutting dead branches
Pruning dead branches
At the last stage, the bush is given symmetry or an original decorative form.

Forsythia bloom

When planting a hedge in the first 2-3 years, pruning is not carried out. The plant must expel many long shoots, which are subsequently intertwined with each other.

This creates a dense corset of flowering branches. Further, sanitary pruning is carried out annually. It removes all damaged branches, as well as dead and dried shoots.

Forsythia is highly resistant to diseases and pests. But if, during flowering, branches affected by insects or any infection were found, they are recommended to be cut and burned.

After the bush is treated with special chemical or biological solutions.

With summer and autumn pruning, you can prepare material for the propagation of the bush. In June, green cuttings 15-20 cm long are cut and planted in a greenhouse.

In September, strong twigs are selected and cuttings 10-15 cm long are harvested. They are planted directly into the ground, leaving 3 buds above its surface. For the winter, such seedlings must be covered.