There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of seeing flowers or shrubs you grew yourself finally burst into bloom. If you’ve been wanting to add more golden color to your yard, you’re in luck—propagating forsythia is surprisingly easy! I’ve put together this simple step-by-step guide and some of my favorite tips to help you get started.
Cutting Your Cuttings
I know it’s tempting to grab your shears as soon as the first rays of spring sun hit, but it’s actually best to wait until the blooming period is over. Once those yellow flowers start to wither, it’s time to prune back the spent branches anyway. These year-old shoots are perfect for cuttings. Look for stems that are still a bit greenish, slightly woody at the base, but still flexible.
When pruning, choose healthy, straight-growing shoots. Cut them down so they are about 6 to 8 inches long. Ideally, each cutting should have a “node” (it looks like a tiny bud) at both the top and the bottom. These nodes are where new shoots and roots sprout most easily.
Caring for Your Cuttings
First, strip off any flower buds or small shoots from the bottom third of your cutting. Then, poke the stem at least two inches deep into some potting mix or directly into your garden soil and give it a good drink of water. Over the next few weeks, keep the soil consistently moist, but be careful not to let it get soggy or waterlogged.
As soon as you see new leaves popping up, you’ll know your cutting has successfully rooted! It won’t be long before it starts sending out side branches, too. If you started yours in a pot and it begins to outgrow its home, feel free to repot it. However, if you’re growing your forsythia in a container, I’d recommend waiting until after its first winter before planting it out in the garden.
Step-by-Step: Growing Forsythia from Cuttings
- Pick a healthy, straight shoot.
- Cut a piece about 6 to 8 inches long.
- Remove the lower buds and the bottom node.
- Plant it at least 2 inches deep in potting soil or directly in the ground.
- Water it well.
Pro Tip: Did you know you can even grow a forsythia bonsai from a cutting? If you want to try that, just trim your cutting to about 4 inches instead.
