Pruning Forsythia???

[Spruance]

I have a ten year old Forsythia bush at the bottom of the garden, in a perhaps less than ideal spot. Nonetheless it seems to do fairly well except when it comes to flowering.

I know that the flowers are produced on wood that grew the year before (?) but try as I might I just can't seem to put this understanding into practice.

After several flowerless years I left the bush alone last year, and naturally it is now covered in flower buds.

Where am I going wrong?

[Tig]

I have removed all mine several years ago Spru - they were more of an unruly hedge than a feature!
My understanding was that you let them flower - then pruned them well back once the flowers have faded and the new growth will provide you with next years blooms. Rake some growmore around the base to encourage the new growth.
Used to work for me x Tig

[Amo]

I hit mine hard after flowering and keep giving it a gentle tidy through the rest of the summer.

If you look at Amo's Place you can see my two in one of the trains photos. The nearer one is very tightly clipped!

[Plocket]

I prune mine hard after flowering and then leave it be. Hopefully you've got yours back to how it should be now Spruance so have a good go at it after the flowers are gone. Don't be tempted to have a go again when it spreads through the year though!

[Weeterrier]

Yes, I learned that through experience They just grow so much in a year, that is the trouble, and they are not the bonniest of shrubs when they are not in flower.

[madonplants]

I prune mine after the flowers fade, by at least two thirds, then every few years take out completely, some older stems, so as to re vitalise it. Then after pruning, I give it a good feed and mulch. I use chicken manure as I'm organic. All this seems to works for me.

Keith

[Spruance]

What I find mystifying is that I usually have good results from pruning other shrubs, so why should I have such a problem with forsythia?

Thanks to all for the sage advice. I will have to be a little less eager with the snipping this year and hope for the best!