The forsythia bed has been slow going. CG has determined that gallon sized plants need extreme patience. Last year CG began propagating his own forsythia in order to achieve a more densely packed mass planting. In mid September, 4" sections of the low growing branches are covered with mulch, leaving at least 2" of the end of the branch exposed. Within 6 weeks, the branch begins to take root. These "new born" forsythia seem much healthier than store-bought plants. The planting bed has a high clay content, which is not ideal for the forsythia, so each planting area is amended with bagged top soil, peat moss, and fertilizer. In addition, the forsythia are planted about 2" above ground, with the amended soil at the top of the root clump sloping downwards. CG thinks 6 to 8 more forsythia are needed to adequately fill the bed. Early spring 2010 should start-off with a big, showy, bright yellow "wow!"
March 2007:
The forsythia bed was started in springtime 2006, after the grass had greened-up. Plastic was laid down over the grass with holes cut out for the gallon-sized bushes. The sod in the planting areas was dug out, and the soil was amended for the forsythia to be planted. The following year, the holes in the plastic were enlarged and additional mulch was added around the plants. Now, all of the plastic has been removed, and it's beginning to become an actual planting bed.
January 2009:
The cut flower bed path yielded excess dirt and rock, so the elevated part of the forsythia bed was extended last summer. Future plans for this bed include the planting of 6 to 8 additional forsythia, adding more river rock, and supplementing the bedding mulch. After the cannas freeze and die-back, CG cuts-off the stalks, runs them over with the lawn mower, and uses the 'canna mulch' around the plantings. Pruning is always an issue with forsythia. CG has found this website to be the most helpful. A more in-depth article on pruning forsythia: Plant Amnesty.
CG's plan is to have a solid mass of yellow in early spring along the north side of the transformed back yard. The forsythia towards the fence are raised 8 to 12 inches for some elevation interest. To compliment the forsythia blooms, there are some yellow daffodils planted in the cut flower bed, the back corner bed, and white ones in the rock path island bed. The daffodils and forsythia introduce the start of the early-blooming iris, which will sustain blooms (through many different varities) until the cannas reach full bloom. After the cannas fade, it's showtime for the burning bushes as they turn a magnificent red in the fall. But it all gets started with the forsythia!
For information on plants, CG is a big fan of Wikipedia.
Here's the 411 on forsythia.
Also, check-out this photo of an amazing 50 year old single planting!
