Forum home› Plants

Pruning Hardy Fuchsia

harmonyharmony Posts: 351
in Plants
Hi, just wanting advice on how to prune this Hardy Fuchsia. Do I cut the main branches right back and get rid of the spindly stems, it hasn't been cut back at all for a couple of years apart from the odd crossing branch. It is full of buds. Thanks

Posts

  • harmonyharmony Posts: 351

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,749
    You can cut it almost to the ground, it'll bounce back.
    I'd take it back to about 12" - 18" .
    Devon.
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,383
    I take mine right down to about 4”  it will make that much growth by this summer. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 33,749
    Lyn said:
    I take mine right down to about 4”  it will make that much growth by this summer. 
    Do what Lyn says, she's a fuchsia fan. 
    Devon.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    I like my fuchsia to be about 7 foot so I take it back to about 2.5ft at the back end. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Mike AllenMike Allen Posts: 207
    With due respect to all Fuchsia lovers.  I think we have to take into account the status, 'Hardy'.  Loosely it refers to or indicates the degree, ability for a subject to withstand our winters outside.
    Especially the genus Fuchsia, there are so, so many new cultivars each year.  Browsing the catalgues we find perhaps one that appeals to us.  YES it's hardy but only grows to 15" high.  Some are prostate. Then another 'Hardy' one can grow practically into a tree.  So no definite cutting back to point can be absolute.

    I favour Lyn's practice when desiring a good well formed specimen, perhaps container grown or in the border.  Fuchsias grown in a hedge need perhaps special care.  At all times it is good to remember fuchsia stems as like their roots are very prone to snapping off.
Sign In or Register to comment.