Forsythia and lilacs are spring bloomers, and their flower buds were formed last season. If you prune in March, you will cut off the majority of the spring flowers. These shrubs are best pruned after flowering, by removing older stems. If shrubs are overgrown, you may want to rejuvenate your shrub by trimming the entire plant to 3-6" above the ground. Another severe pruning method would be removing one third of the oldest wood each year in a three-year cycle. No matter which of these two pruning techniques you choose, your overgrown shrub will bloom heavier and will be more showy.
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Should I be pruning my overgrown forsythia and lilacs in the spring?
Last Updated: June 24, 2010
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