Beginner Gardening: I did a baaaaad thing, 1 by Terry

Terry wrote:
I couldn't stand the looks of my Forsythia shrub (I use the term "shrub" very loosely) any longer. It was a 10' tall mass of tangled branches, criss-crossed, some pointing skyward and some draping the ground (and layering themselves into mini-me forsythia shrub-ettes all over the place.) Couldn't hardly get a mower near the thing, and certainly couldn't get UNDER it to keep the creeping charlie from creeping.

DH and I pruned it sufficiently (we thought) this spring after it bloomed, but apparently that just sent its growth hormones into overdrive. Soooooo, armed with loppers, a pruning saw and my pruners I went after it, and it's now an almost-graceful, airy shrub that's about 6' tall, with about 20-25 (mostly one-year-old) branches that nicely arch over to within 3' of the ground (see the photo) Funny thing is, my children seemed very, very afraid of me when I came back inside. Guess they figured if I could be that ruthless with a shrub...well, they should watch their step *grin*

I know I may rue my impulsive decision come next February/March, but I had reached the point that I figured I'd rather sacrifice a year's worth of blooms than stare at that hideous mound for another year. I *did* manage to restrain myself for a few weeks while the baby wrens prepared to leave the nest that was in the center of it ;o)

I'm thinking I might even plant a mass of pale yellow and white daffodils beneath it this fall. At least there'll be SOME color in that general vicinity.

Anybody else ever act on that urge to prune even when you know it's wrong, wrong, wrong????