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My Forsythia

16 years ago

I have a bad neighbor who has stepped on a couple of my new Forsythia that are 4-5 ft tall and were only recently planted and broken ,they are broken where they come right from the base from the soil. Does this mean that they are dead ? Should I just continue to water them and see if they will grow again?Also can I take the broken stems and stick them into the ground and start new growth? I appreaciate your help.Also I cannot prove this moron broke them unless I have it on film.

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Comments (8)

flora_uk
16 years ago
I would just keep looking after them and hope for the best. Forsythia is very accommodating. And about the cuttings - yes it's one of the easiest shrubs to increase that way. Just stick lengths into the ground and wait. They should be rooted by next spring.
tommy23
Original Author
16 years ago
So if I take these broken branches and plant them they will grow? Can you give me a little more detail,should I soak in water for a few days, how far down should I plant the broken ends etc.
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is that fencing all for that forsythia??? .. wow .... what is your goal with this plant ... a house sized shrub .. that heaps upon itself endlessly .... or a small arching delight.. like you previously had??? if the latter .. then you need to study/google: REJUVENATION PRUNING of flowering shrubs.. or forsythia specifically .... its system wherein.. every year.. you remove 1/3 of the plant... renewing it forever ... if its the former.. you leave it be ... on some level ... w/o a goal... you are forcing your aesthetic on its natural ability to shape itself ... clarify your goal ... and you ought to see the light.. of what you need to do ... as an aside.. do you fert this thing.. thats a lot of growth .. in one season ... considering that in your zone.. its frozen solid half the year ..... if it were me.. i would leave it be thru flowering ... perhaps even harvesting some dormant boughs in january.. and forcing them to bloom indoors ... in a vase ... and if you want more.. rooting them ... and then after outdoor flowering.. start the rejuvenation system... or not. depending on your goal ... google images.. or some such.. ought to give you a couple million pix of what can be done with this plant ... ken
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flora_uk
16 years ago
I don't know of a 'correct' method, I just cut pieces about 18 inches long and stick them straight into the ground. they always root. In the past have used forsythia prunings as pea sticks. At the end of the pea season I have a forsythia hedge.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
if you have more than one.. stick some in the ground... others in water... change water often ... both will root ... plant as soon as you have roots.... long water roots do not necessarily make good roots for transplant ... most 'green thumbs' learn by just doing it.. and not worrying about it .. what lives, lives... it aint a book thing.. that's why their thumbs are green.. and not black from book ink .. or CTS from typing... lol ... just do it ...

i doubt the momma is dead... its just not that easy to kill a forsythia ... give it a month.. you will not be let down .. besides.. if it was that tall and only a few branches.. i would have trimmed it down right after flowering.. jsut to get it into bush form.. rather than tall and gangly .... again .. if you have more than one bush .. experiment ....

ken
tommy23
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all the info ,I will try, how many stems do I plant in one hole and should I shave the stem, how deep , how much watering is required,Someone said lots of water everyday and use (Root Tone to prevent a fungus)
flora_uk
16 years ago
What works for me... Take the forsythia pruning and shove it into the ground any depth as long as it can't blow over. Forget about it. Check it next spring. I don't dig a hole, I don't use rooting compound, I don't shave the stem, I don't water. If your area is really dry give it a drop of water occasionally. Any fungus 'someone' fears is probably being CAUSED by the constant watering. I've never had that problem.

Forsythia roots so easily, it would probably grow if you just left the twigs lying around on the surface in a damp climate. Just stop worrying and get on with it. An alternative, if you are scared of cutting it off before it's rooted is layering. Bend a branch down to the ground and peg it down. Again forget it and check next spring. It will have formed roots and you can then cut it off the parent.
tommy23
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks , sounds so easy a caveman can do it LOL . I really appreaciate your help. thanks
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
16 years ago
that is exactly what i was trying to tell you.. i just didnt know you were a caveman .. lol ...

in the garden ... JUST DO IT .. and dont worry about it...

and try to remember to tell us if the original popped back up.. in a month or so ..

ken

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