Cutting back and moving fuschia

Mander

I have these two fuchsia which did very well last year but the pink one in particular has become gigantic, and the white one is planted in a somewhat stupid place. I'd like to cut the pink one back a bit and move the white one. When's the best time to do this? And will it kill the white one if I dig it up?


The white one is on the right side toward the back. It's planted in a tiny spot behind a small dry stone wall and besides being awkward I think it might eventually push the wall out of place. 

Busy-Lizzie

I cut hardy fuchsias back to about 6 inches in spring when frosts are less likely but before they start into real growth.
I would move the white one at the same time, taking a reasonable amount of earth with it. Hopefully it won't realise it's been moved then.

JennyJ

You can cut them back in spring as hard as you like, right to the ground if you want, but I prefer to leave a few inches at least so I can see where they are, and some that I want to flower taller, I don't cut back so much. All the flowering will be on new growth.

For moving, do it when the ground is damp but not frozen and with as little disturbance to the roots as possible. What I would do is dig the new planting hole first, and have a sheet of strong plastic (old compost sack cut open or similar) ready to put it on when you dig it out, then lift the plastic up around the root ball, and carry it to its new place by the plastic so the soil doesn't drop off. You can prune it before or after moving, or not at all, it won't much care which, but I would at least take off any branches that get damaged in the move, and even up the shape.

Cambridgerose12

They're actually pretty tough and transplant well, like hydrangeas. 
Note: if you cut your pink one right back, by the end of the growing season it will look like this again.

They are what they are--if they like you, you get them at whatever size they choose to end up. But then, too, you're a very lucky gardener.

nick615

Amen to the above.  They're pretty much a weed round here, constituting hedging material round many fields so, round about September, the tractors come out with flail cutters and wreak havoc on them.  If they're a species that can tolerate that sort of treatment, I'd say you've got no worries.