Forsythia

This was how the forsythia flowered this year, not so good considering the growth. So a major prune was in store once the flowers were over. The general advice seemed to be that if the shrub was overgrown, ruthless pruning was necessary, even cutting it all back to 4 inches above the ground.

I didn't go quite that mad. Although I did take out some of the oldest and thickest branches, I tried to leave something that covered the fence behind.

It did expose part of the border that was covered by old growth, to which I will now have to give some thought.

The prunings ranged from the large old branches ....

..... to the piles of shrubbery that all had to be bagged and taken to the tip for recycling.

Next up is a major prune on the clematis after that has flowered.