Details
Planting & Care for Deciduous Shrub – Forsythia
Preparation
- A sunny position is vital when you’re planting. If you do plant Forsythia in the shade a multitude of shoots form but many will refuse to flower. Growth also becomes loose and weak.
- Forsythia braves the cold wind! Hardy to -13 degrees Fahrenheit.
- This plant grows strongly in most well-drained soils, from heavy clay to light sand and chalk.
- Fortify impoverished borders, especially where roots from nearby trees invade, with humus-rich forming, old crumbly, or proprietary composted manure or well-rotted garden compost.
Opening Plant Material
- Bare Root - Cut open the bundle (top and roots are tied) and separate all the plants. Soak roots in buckets of water until planted. Each plant type will be labeled separately for identification. Do not expose the roots to sun. They should never dry out. Keep roots covered. All bare-root plants must be trimmed when planted.
- Containers - Completely saturate all container plants by putting in a larger container of water until stops bubbling, remove. Now ready to plant. Dig a hole no deeper than the depth of the container and 6" or more, making sure it’s wider on the sides.
Planting Bare Root
- Plant Bare root in fall. A good indicator if you can still plant is if the ground is still workable you’re good to go. If a hard frost is expected be sure to hold off on planting.
- Dig a hole at least 6" wider and the same depth as the root mass. The crown or graft of the plant should be slightly higher than ground level where it was grown at the nursery.
- Trim off the broken roots and branches.
- Place fertilizer packets in hole (if purchased). Do not place other fertilizers in the planting hole. *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer.
- Spread the roots and fill halfway with soil, then water until soil settles completely saturating the soil and planting pit.
- Re-adjust plant and fill the hole with the rest of the soil.
- Back fill the balance of the soil and water well.
- See our link below “Handling & Planting Guidelines” for illustrations on planting.
Planting containers
- Slide plant from pot by tapping on the bottom of the pot.
- With shovel or knife trim bottom 2" off of the root ball for plants in plastic containers.
- Rotate the plant to the proper position. Never lift or move plants by the tops.
- Place the root ball in the hole.
- Notice where the base of the trunk flairs out from the tree. This is called the root flair. This root flair should show when the tree is planted. If necessary, add soil under the ball so the root flair is exposed.
- Place fertilizer packets into the bottom of the hole (if purchased). *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer.
- Backfill the hole with soil, making sure the top of the root ball is visible and slightly higher than the soil around it.
- Firm the soil around the plant. Water well to settle soil around the root ball.
Pruning - After Planting
- Bare Root - Prune ALL bare root plants to reduce transplant shock and ensure success. Pruning should occur either before or as soon after planting as possible. All pruning should be done with a sharp pruning shears.
- Containers- Although it is not essential for containers to be pruned after planting, a light pruning for shape, to remove any broken branches from shipping, or to thin out a heavily branched plant will help in the transplanting process and in the appearance of your new planting.
Pruning - Through-out the Season
- Prune in May – Once established, keep plants youthful and flowering freely by removing from the base a third of the oldest shoots when flowers fade. Clip hedges at the same time of year, so that flower buds form from the following year.
Watering - After Planting
- Plants typically take approximately 6 weeks to establish new roots in your soil. During this period, water plants as often as every 2-4 days at the start and at least a minimum of once per week.
- Beyond the 6 week establishment period, water once per week, unless rains occur.
- Stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Watering - Through-out the Season
- After the first season, plants should only be watered during extended periods without rain.
- How do you know if your plants need water? The easiest way to tell is to touch the soil around the roots. If it is moist, there is no need to water. If it is dry, give it a good soaking with the hose end (no nozzle) watering the soil only, not the leaves.
- Stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Go to our "Plant Features & Video Tab" for more information & tips on caring and maintaining this plant.
Special Features & Videos for Forsythia
Special Plant Features & Tips
- The Gold Tide Forsythia is an outstanding ground cover type Forsythia that will spread about 3-4' across, and will attain a height of about 2 1/2'.
- The larger, more aggressive upright sprouts should be removed to maintain the ground hugging habit.
- Some branches will lay right on the ground.
- Small, fine textured foliage is a shiny light green and very attractive.
- In fall, when the cold temperatures come on long and slow, the fall color is yellow in the interior of the plant, and purplish to the outside.
- One of the first plants to bloom in spring with excellent lemon yellow flowers along each stem, and lasting sometimes for up to a month.
- Flower bud hardiness is better than 'Bronxensis' by about a zone.
- Introduction from France.
- Will retain the 2.5' high and 3-4' wide if vigorous upright shoots are removed on a regular basis.
- A sunny position is vital when you’re planting. If you do plant Forsythia in the shade a multitude of shoots form but many will refuse to flower. Growth also becomes loose and weak.
- Forsythia braves the cold wind! Hardy to -13 degrees Fahrenheit.
- This plant grows strongly in most well-drained soils, from heavy clay to light sand and chalk.
- Fortify impoverished borders, especially where roots from nearby trees invade, with humus-rich forming, old crumbly, or proprietary composted manure or well-rotted garden compost.
- Prune in May – Once established, keep plants youthful and flowering freely by removing from the base a third of the oldest shoots when flowers fade. Clip hedges at the same time of year, so that flower buds form from the following year.
Watch our Video on how to plant & care for a bare root plant
How do we dig our bare root plants?

Item | Approx Weight (lbs.) | Approx Base Dimensions (diameter) | Approx Height |
---|---|---|---|
#7 Grow Bag** | 35-50 | 14-16" | 5-8' |
#10 Grow Bag** | 55-70 | 18" | 6-8' |
#15 Grow Bag** | 65-80 | 22" | 6-10' |
#20 Grow Bag** | 75-100 | 24" | 8-12' |
1 1/4" B&B** | 250-500 | 22" for single stems, 28" for multiple stems | 8-11' |
1 1/2" B&B** | 325-600 | 24" for single stems, 30" for multiple stems | 10-12' |
2" B&B** | 500-700 | 28" for single stems, 32" for multiple stems | 10-14' |
2 1/2" B&B** | 600-1000 | 30" for single stems, 36" for multiple stems | 10-15' |
3" B&B** | 850-1000 | 34"-36" | 12-16' |
3 1/2" B&B** | 1000 | 36" | 12-18' |
10' B&B** | 250 | 22" | 10' |
12' B&B** | 325 | 24" | 12' |
14' B&B** | 500 | 28" | 14' |
16' B&B** | 600 | 30" | 16' |
2' B&B** | 50 | 12-16" | 2' |
3' B&B** | 60-250 | 16-22" | 3' |
4' B&B** | 250 | 22-24" | 4' |
5' B&B** | 325 | 22-24" | 5' |
6' B&B** | 150-325 | 16-24" | 6' |
7' B&B** | 500-700 | 28-32" | 7' |
8' B&B** | 600-700 | 14-30" | 8' |
9' B&B** | 700 | 32" | 9' |
#3 container* | Less than 35 | 10" | 10" |
#5 container** | 40 | 11" | 10.5" |
#7 container** | 60 | 14" | 12" |
#10 container** | 80 | 14" | 14 |
#20 container** | 160 | 19.5" | 17" |
Bare Root* | varies, but always lighter | no soil on roots | varies depending on item |
*#1 - #3 containers and bare root are the only items that can be shipped FedEx and/or by our delivery trucks (see below for more information regarding pick-up and local delivery.
**Any items over 100 Ibs., #5 - #20 containers or B&B can only be delivered by our trucks due to FedEx shipping weight and size restrictions. Our trusted trucks only deliver around a 100 miles radius from our corporate office in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Any item you order can be picked-up at our corporate office in Waterloo, Wisconsin or our new retail garden center Winterland Nursery for free (bare root orders cannot be picked up at Winterland due to lack of bare root coolers). See our estimated delivery schedule here.
Growing Zones: 4-8
Bloom Time: | April |
Color: | Green, Purple, Yellow |
Plant Size: | 2.5' tall x 3-4' wide |
Flower Color: | Yellow |
Fall Color: | Yellow & purple |
Sunlight: | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
Soil Conditions: | Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Wet, Dry |
Low Maintenance: | Yes |
Deer Resistant: | Yes |
Attracts Butterflies: | No |
Attracts Bees: | Yes |
Attracts Birds: | No |
Edible: | No |
Native: | No |