I have forsythia and other bushes that the branches seem to grow horizontally. The forsythia is lanky, not very full at the bottom, almost as though they have a stem or trunk like a lollipop. I have read to resolve this configuration lopping to 2-4 inches off ground and essentially starting over to encourage "basal" growth. Can you explain what the term basal means and why the branches seem to grow out across horizontally?
Basel growth is a term I see most often used in pruning Roses.
Here are some excellent articles about pruning your Forsythia the correct way.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-pruning.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-rejuvenation.htm
If you have a mature forsythia that is pretty tall (around 8-10 feet) and you need to aggressively prune it, is there a preferred time of year to do that, or does it really matter?
Late fall or early spring is recommended.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-rejuvenation.htm
All the leaves are turning brown. It did bloom, but now is finished blooming. Please advise what I need to do.
This link will refresh you on the care requirements.
Adjust watering if needed. A Forsythia needs about 2 inches of water weekly.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-shrub-care.htm
We had a hard winter - the plant has no green leaves, just a few buds that won't bloom. It's a 1 year old plant and it gets full sun.
In these situations, patience is the best policy. It may still put out leaves eventually, so don't give up on it yet. You can also prune it at the usual time to encourage new growth:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-pruning.htm
how wide an area of mulch should there be around the base of a forsythia -- between the bush and the grass?
Ideally you should mulch as far as the drip line - this is the outer reach of the plant's branches. As a rule, roots tend to grow out to the drip line so they can get to the water that drips down the outside of the plant, just like the name suggests. You're mulching to keep the roots moist and temperature regulated, so you want to cover their entire area.
Just make sure to leave a few inches between the mulch and the crown of the plant in order to prevent disease and pests.
You can read more about forsythia care here: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-shrub-care.htm
I have a large over grown forsythia that has been neglected. I just started tackling this project the other day by first cutting out all the dead branches. there are MANY straggly shoots (suckers?) coming off live branches, but the problem is most of them only have growth at the very ends. This yrs. blooming was not very much and only lasted a short time. I want to shape this "beast" up some and make it healthy. Where do I go from here? And once I'm finished is there some kind of fertilizer I should? Thank you
After flowering is a great time to prune up your Forsythia shrub.
Here are several articles that will help you.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-rejuvenation.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-pruning.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-shrub-care.htm
My forsythia bush hasn't bloomed in 2 years. Should I leave it alone,for chop it back?
It appears that your Forsythia could use a good rejuvenation prune.
These articles will help you with this project.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-shrub-care.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-pruning.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/forsythia/forsythia-rejuvenation.htm