Question
Hi Mark,

I hope you can offer some guidance please.  I have a row of forsythia acting as a very important hedge (my neighbors are swingers, hottub...).  We acquired the house and this existing row of forsythia.  They are in horrible condition.  They have grown wild without pruning for many years.  So many are practically growing horizontal due to weight, age...  It's a jungle.

To make matters worse they are situated between a concrete patio and a retaining wall, so they have 12 inches to live in.  I started drastically pruning, down to 12-18 inches, but am concerned they won't return to provide privacy.  Should  I be concerned about them coming back?  And secondly, are there any other plant choices for this narrow space that will provide a privacy hedge and grow 6+ feet?

PS--Northern New Jersey climate

Thank You so much,
Dave W.

Answer
Dave,

First, about forsythia in general.  I've had both good and bad experiences with hard pruning of forsythia.  On the one that I keep tree-like, with a skeleton of older branches for structure, and annual new growth for flowers...things are great.  Strong, upright regrowth every year.  On the one I lost patience with and whacked to the ground (literally) expecting it to come back in a smaller version, I got a weird result.  The branches never went upright.  They came out but just laid on the ground, more like a creeping forsythia, which I've never heard of.  It did that for 3 years, and I finally took it out.

Second, about screening hedges.  Forsythia seems like an odd choice for that hedge.  Okay, maybe it gives 3 weeks of thrill in the spring, but if I'm screening, I don't use deciduous anything.

I'd go with either Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) or Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Luyken').

I've used both successfully in restricted spaces right next to a lot of concrete. Either would require shearing.  The Arborvitae, you could get by with once a year once it's established.  If you have a good nursery around, you can get 4-5 ft ones fairly cheap.  Your local nurseryman could tell you what particular variety will thrive in your area.  There are several with difference growth habits.  Here I generally fall back on 'Emerald Green'.  The Cherry Laurel would require shearing twice a year if you want to keep it neat.  "Otto Luyken" is the variety that grows to about 5 ft.  Avoid just plain Prunus laurocerasus, which is English Laurel.  That is a foliage factory that screens fast and then becomes a nuisance.

Hope this helps.
Mark in Portland