Forsythia intermedia, commonly known as the border forsythia, is a beautiful shrub that can bring vibrant colors to your garden. As a gardening and landscaping expert, I can tell you that this plant has the potential to grow quite large if left unpruned. However, with proper care and pruning, you can easily control its growth and maintain a more manageable size.
In its natural state, the forsythia intermedia can mature to be 8 to 10 feet tall and 10 to 12 feet wide. This means that if you let it grow freely without any intervention, it can quickly become a substantial presence in your garden. While some gardeners may appreciate the wild and untamed look of an unpruned forsythia, others may prefer a more controlled and compact appearance.
To keep the size of the forsythia intermedia in check, regular pruning is essential. By selectively removing branches and shaping the shrub, you can prevent it from becoming too large and overpowering. Pruning can also help promote healthy growth, encourage more blooms, and maintain an overall tidy appearance.
When it comes to pruning forsythia intermedia, timing is crucial. The best time to prune is right after the plant has finished flowering. This is typically in late spring or early summer. By pruning at this time, you avoid removing potential flower buds for the following year.
Start by removing any dead, damaged, or diseased branches. These can be easily identified by their brown or withered appearance. Next, selectively thin out the branches to improve airflow and sunlight penetration. This not only helps prevent diseases but also encourages more vigorous growth.
If you want to control the size of the forsythia even further, you can also prune back the branches to a desired height and width. This will help maintain a more compact and manageable shrub. However, be cautious not to remove more than one-third of the plant’s total growth in a single pruning session, as this can stress the plant.
In my personal experience, I have found that regular pruning of forsythia intermedia not only keeps the size under control but also enhances its overall appearance. By selectively removing branches and shaping the shrub, you can create a more aesthetically pleasing and well-maintained garden feature.
The forsythia intermedia has the potential to grow quite large if left unpruned, reaching heights of 8 to 10 feet and widths of 10 to 12 feet. However, with regular pruning and proper care, you can easily control its size and shape to better suit your garden’s needs. Remember to prune right after flowering and be mindful not to remove more than one-third of the plant’s growth at a time. So go ahead, enjoy the beauty of the forsythia intermedia while keeping it in check with regular pruning.
