Need to move forsythia, when is best?

The forsythia has outgrown it's spot. It's about 7 years old, 7 ft tall by about 5 ft wide, is that too big to move? When is the best time to move it, should I prune everything down to a few sticks and let it start over or would that kill it? There's a new plan for the bed it is growing in so leaving it in place doesn't seem to be an option. Would I be better off taking some cuttings and trying to root them? How would I do that? Help!

Forsythia is a very forgiving bush here in Zone 6. And to start a new one I simply pull one branch down to the ground and stake it so the branch is slightly under the surface of the ground. It will grow roots in no time. Then whaa-la!! a new forsythia bush.

MaryE... that's a pretty large shrub to try and move... without a lot of muscle involved anyway. If you do dig it up, you should try and divide it. Fall is a good time.

SLEDDER and darius: do you know if it is the same for white forsythia? I planted the shrubs last fall - very tiny and would like to have "more". Would they root if I took cuttings? Thanks!

Sorry Dea, I don't have any experience with white forsythia....just the yellow. But I don't know why the white would be any different. What do you have to loose? Try alittle root hormone and go for it!!

I echo what Sledder said... no exp. with the whitebut don't see why it wouldn't work.

MaryE

In the east here we can move shrubs like forsythia
after they go dormant and before the ground freezes
Here that is October 12 - December 1 - after that the risk of freezing the new plant is too great. In Oregon you probably can move it anytime in the fall

I am planning to move mine. Some sorry soul planted it in the shade and it needs more light. So to the front yard it goes. Just been waiting for fall.

Roxroe, my window for moving it would be about the same as yours. I'm in northeastern Oregon where the ground freezes for several months in the winter. Thanks everyone for all the advice. I think I will try to root some branches and then if I loose the old one I will already have replacements.

I dug mine up late late winter here in zone 7. I think it must have been early March. It depends where it is planted and how hard the ground is. I moved mine in March because the ground had been getting rain and it was easy to dig. I washed the roots and planted it bareroot in the new spot after filling the hole with water. They seem to move really well if you keep them watered. Mine is fine now and growing all this time in its new place. Even got yellow out there after having been moved. Wish all shrubs were this easy.