A few young plants are needed for a forsythia hedge. A cheaper alternative to buying the plants is to propagate the goldbells by cuttings or layering.
The yellow flowers of the forsythia (Forsythia) look wonderful - especially as a hedge. But if you don't want to buy all the plants from the gardener, you can multiply forsythia yourself with a little patience. There are two options:
- Propagation by cuttings
- Propagation by lowering
We would like to explain this to you in more detail here.
Propagation via cuttings
Propagation via cuttings is particularly easy. If you proceed conscientiously and create the optimal conditions, you can place your plant in its final location as early as next spring.
How to propagate:
- For this purpose, cut off slightly woody shoots with a length of around 15 to 20 centimeters shortly after the flowering period in June. Incidentally, this time is particularly recommended for pruning the forsythia anyway.
- Then remove the lower leaves from the shoots and plant two-thirds of them in a soil-sand mixture or in fresh potting soil.
- About a third of the shoot should stick out of the soil, which is kept slightly moist and warm to allow the forsythia to root well. But please avoid waterlogging. The optimum temperature is between 20°C and 25°C in a sheltered location.
➯ Place cuttings in the garden
Once the cuttings have taken root, you can transplant them to the desired spot in the garden. The undemanding forsythia adapts to shady and sunny locations as well as dry soil conditions. Spring is the best time to plant.
Propagation via reducers
In addition to cuttings, you can also propagate forsythia using young branches that form new roots when they come into contact with the ground. These branches are not cut off, but bent downwards - that's why they are called "sinkers".
How it works:
- Choose a shoot thatgrows directly on the ground. This shoot is now freed from leaves in the middle and slightly cut there to promote root formation.
- Now place this area in the previously loosened area and cover it with more soil. If necessary, you can weigh down the sinker with stones, sticks or a tent peg to keep the interface below ground.
- Make sure that the tip of the shoot is still sticking out of the ground. You can also carefully attach the shoot to a stick or skewer (with fine wire or thread) to help it grow straight.
➯ Separate young plants after a year
By cutting the forsythia shoot, the sinker forms independent roots and grows into a new plant, which after about one year can be separated from the mother plant. Use secateurs or a spade for this; Your young plant is ready.
Now you can place the forsythia in its final location.
» Another tip: To plant a hedge as an ornament or as a privacy screen, you need two plants per meter of garden area. Have fun!