Beginner success with Forsythia — here is what helped

As a complete beginner I was nervous about starting with Forsythia. It turned out to be more forgiving than I expected, as long as I paid attention to mulching around the base annually to feed and retain moisture.

I grow mine in a formal clipped topiary or box hedge which is working really well. multi-season interest from flowers, berries, bark, and autumn colour was a genuine surprise — I didn't expect it to look or perform like that. early spring flowering on bare branches before leaves appear has been the highlight so far. My biggest mistake early on was ignoring leggy and open growth habit from insufficient light, which I'd recommend addressing immediately.