I need a privacy hedge on the side of my driveway. I live in northern Illinois and the forsythia is now in bloom . Trees have not leafed out. It is March/April. My spot gets full sun without the leafed out trees and partial, mottled sun to shade throughout the summer. I am unsure if forsythia will work or if I should try something else. Is spring or fall better for planting forsythia?

I am not sure how much sun Forsythia needs. However it does lose its leaves in winter and might not be the best choice for privacy.

I have a hedge of them in total shade with no problem. Don't know if it is the best time but I cut the limbs from my bush and push the stems in the ground in the Spring when they finish blooming. I have bushes all over the property from clippings

They should grow, but as pointed out, not a great choice for a privacy hedge. They tend to grow wide, 6 or 8 feet, do you have room for them to be that wide? If not, they will need a lot of pruning every year to make a 'hedge.' All the pruning interferes with bloom, and the early yellow bloom is about the only special feature on forsythia.

I think you would be well to consider something else. Ask advice from a nursery, not the big box. or
http://extension.illinois.edu/...

Spring and fall both are probably fine for planting a hedge.

Thank you everyone. I appreciate your thoughts. :

When I first moved here 30 years ago, I planted a property borderline of forsythias. Bad decision! I have been fighting them ever since. They spread yearly and relentlessly. They are evil around flowerbeds. I can never kill all of them.