When can I cut back shrubs.

[beattie819]

I have a japonica (in flower) myrtle, and forsythia. They have all gona a bit "leggy" and look a bit of a mess. When is the time to prune or cut them right back please.
Also, can anyone suggest a fast growing plant to train up a garden arch please.

[LoftyLottie]

Prune forsythia as soon as the flowers are finished. Any later and you won't get any flowers next year.

I think probably japonica is the same. I will check.

[LoftyLottie]

Yep, I was right. Bit more information here.

http://www.garden-gro...ica-chaenomeles.shtml

[Hawkwalk]

Prune Myrtle in spring, so a light prune about now. As for Japonica, that just means from Japan so it depends on which plant you are refering to.

For a fast growing plant up an arch try Clematis montana.

[LoftyLottie]

I assumed that Beattie meant quince which is commonly called just 'japonica' and is in flower at the moment.

[beattie819]

Thank you very much for your helpful answers. Here I go with the secateurs!!!!!!!

[beattie819]

Yes LoftieLottie it is quince, and thank you very much for your help.

[LoftyLottie]

Beattie. Clematis Montana is lovely and very fast growing but can become huge and take a lot of cutting back. It may be a bit too much and a bit heavy for a garden arch.

Have you thought of planting a climbing rose which flowers in the summer together with a less rampant clematis or honeysuckle. The complement each other and if you get a spring flowering honeysuckle or clematis you will get a long flowering period and some wonderful scent.

Good luck with those secateurs. I shall be joining you later today. x

[hammerman]

Cut back forsythia and "Japonica" after it's finnished flowering. By "japonica, i presume you mean Chaenomoles or the "quince".

Fast growing plant.....Clematis as metioned....plus any other clematis, honeysuckle. passiflora and wisteria