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From: smh@mhuxl
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: Re: Advice on Pruning Shrubs
Message-ID: <708@mhuxl>
Date: Sat, 26-Apr-86 22:05:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: mhuxl.708
Posted: Sat Apr 26 22:05:00 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 14-May-86 22:03:57 EDT
References: <1739@mtgzy>
Lines: 13

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From the keys of Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA mhuxl!smh

> Forsythia, lilac, and some other spring-flowering shrubs bloom only
> on last year's growth.  Thus the object of the game is to get as
> much growth as possible this year to maximize the flowers next
> year.  Pruning after flowering does just that.  Pruning in the fall
> just cuts off the flower buds.

I prefer to prune forsythia they way I prune raspberries; remove all the
2 year old canes.  On an old plant you remove the oldest half of the canes,
the ones that look like they have bark on them.  You should see how
beautiful our forsythia was this year until we got snow.