A hydraulic boom control system for a forestry machine is provided, which includes a pump for pressurizing a hydraulic fluid on a high pressure side, a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid on a low pressure side, and a first hydraulic cylinder including a cap end and a rod end. The first hydraulic cylinder is configured to actuate a hoist of the boom. A second hydraulic cylinder includes a cap end and a rod end and is configured to actuate a stick of the boom. A first control valve is operable to control the first hydraulic cylinder. A second control valve is operable to control the second hydraulic cylinder. A variable return metering valve is fluidly connected to at least one of the first or second control valves. The variable return metering valve is operable to modulate shared hydraulic fluid flow between the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder.