Forsythias are also called Goldilocks because of their pretty yellow flowers. They grow in many gardens and are considered harbingers of spring. The shrubs are long-lived and undemanding. They require little care. This is how you care for the forsythia properly.
How do I properly care for a forsythia?
Caring for forsythia includes sparing watering, occasional fertilization for potted plants and pruning every three years. The shrubs are hardy and usually do not require winter protection. Diseases and pests rarely occur when the right location is chosen.
Do forsythia need to be watered?
Watering is only necessary when the leaves hang limply. The soil must never dry out completely, but it must also not be too moist. You need to water potted plants more often.
Do Goldilocks need regular fertilizer?
Forsythias require no fertilizer at all. If you add some mature compost to the planting hole before planting, that will be sufficient.
Occasional fertilizer does not hurt with forsythia in a pot. It is even better to repot the plant in spring.
When should forsythia be cut?
- Maintenance cut after flowering
- Rejuvenating pruning in winter/spring
- Grooming cut if necessary
Forsythias need to be cut at least every three years. In doing so, cut down all old shoots and thin out the bush.
Autumn pruning is not advisable as you will remove too many flower-bearing branches.
What diseases and pests can occur?
Forsythias are almost disease-resistant if the location is right. Fungal diseases occur in wet soils. The branches dry out and the flowers do not develop. The roots also rot when waterlogged.
The only pest that occurs on forsythia are bedbugs. They suck out the leaves that are still curled up and leave ugly holes behind. Not much can be done about it. But this hardly harms the plant.
Does the forsythia need winter protection?
Forsythias are absolutely hardy. They can survive even the lowest temperatures below zero. Winter protection is only necessary if the forsythia was not planted in spring but only in autumn.
When caring for the pot, you should place the pot on Styrofoam (€7.00 on Amazon) or other insulating material and, to be on the safe side, protect it from frost with foil.
If there are significant drops in temperature again during the flowering period, the flowers will freeze. Unfortunately there is no way to prevent this.
Tips & Tricks
Forsythia is a hybrid. Their flowers contain neither pollen nor nectar, so the spring bloomers are uninteresting to bees and other insects. Forsythia is therefore not planted in natural gardens.
