Taming an Overgrown Forsythia

[David Cressey]

Hi all.

I've let a Forsythia in the back yard grow without pruning for some ten years now.

I'd like to bring it under control.

I think I can figure out how to prune it back, and let it recover next spring. What I don't know is how to get rid of the secondary roots. It has arched over and rooted itself in areas that I want to return to lawn. Do I have to dig up the roots? How deep do I have to dig?

I know almost nothing about gardening.

[Jim Kingdon]

Forsythia is pretty durable. So you can prune it back pretty hard, and it will recover.

Never done this with a forsythia, but you can probably just pull them up (if they come out), or dig enough to get out the main clump of roots. If they keep coming back, keep pulling them up. Well, you'll have to do that anyway, if it is like most forsythias (at least by reputation, ours is in a shady spot and was pretty overgrown by other plants including poison ivy, so we haven't yet experienced this firsthand).

[Frank]

I've had same problem. Just whacked it back cutting off extensions. Think I did it in the fall but I think any time would work.

Frank

[dr-solo]