Question
QUESTION: Hi
Our forsythias never seem to fully bloom ...only about the bottom half...then the top just eventually puts on leaves. We are in Maine and our soil is fairly heavy. Any help?


ANSWER: Sounds to me like someone is pruning off blooms without knowing it -- shaving the top of the plant to keep it cropped neatly or pruned nicely?

Some plants build their flower buds in mid- to late Summer.  The flower buds go dormant when the weather cools.  Then, in the Spring, the buds open and bloom.  Forsythia is one of these plants.  The flowers emerge along branches that were produced the previous Summer.  Lots of plants do this, and lots of homeowners ask the question you did.  Your thoughts and corrections, if any, invited.

L.I.G.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: There has been NO pruning... your answer was less than informative but thanks anyway
Dave

Answer
'Less than informative' ... alas, such is the life of the volunteer here at AllExperts from time to time.  But maybe this will help you, Dave: The new information you supplied (thank you) -- that you have NOT pruned -- simply points out that the Forsythia is blooming the way it does without pruning, on the new wood.  The non-blooming wood was never pruned.

All my questions should be this easy.

Someone on the planet will definitely find this helpful.  Which is why I do this.  Thanks for your question, and very best regards,

L.I.G.