Question: My forsythia has very few blooms; it used to be beautiful. What can I do to return it to its former glory?

Answer: It sounds like your plant could use a rejuvenation pruning. Forsythia is a member of the group of spring-flowering shrubs that blooms on "old" wood or from buds that developed in late summer.

If you pruned your shrub severely early this spring, you probably cut off the flowers. That same pruning, however, will rejuvenate older shrubs for next year's flowering season. If you haven't pruned, do so after flowering.

Remove no more than one-third of the oldest stems by cutting them to the ground. This will provide more energy and blooms on the younger shoots and encourage more young shoots to develop. Next year your old forsythia should be the showpiece of the neighborhood.

Q: Our tulips and daffodils have finished blooming. Can I cut them to the ground so the garden looks tidier?

A: After your flower blossoms have faded, do not cut off the leaves if you want them to regrow next spring. Leaves produce food that is sent to the underground bulb for storage. Removing leaves before they wither prevents food storage and may damage or kill the bulbs. Spent flowers may be removed.

Some gardeners remove the bulbs after planting and replant new ones every year. If this does not appeal to you, interplant annuals among the withering bulb tops to hide the fading leaves.

Q: The aspens in my front yard have weird knots on the stem. What are they and what can I do about it?

A: Your aspens have become home to the poplar twiggall fly. The "knots" or galls are produced by the tree in response to the insect's feeding. Galled tissues will continue to grow and swell and trees become quite knobby and knotty over time.

The galls don't seem to affect the health of the tree, so control with insecticides is not recommended. Insect-eating birds and parasitic wasps will eat some of the adult flies. Enjoy the knobbed nature of your trees. Like knobby knees on your kids, it's part of their charm.

Carol Lee King is a CSU Extension Master Gardener in Jefferson County.