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how low should you prune fucshias and roses

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how low should you prune fuchsias and roses, (I am in the West midlands)?




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Fuchsias should be left till spring after your sure of no more frosts also a mulch of well rotted garden compost or any similar material spread around the plant in the autumn should provide extra root protection during the winter.
Pruning.... Cut back every branch just above a pair of leaf buds to within three or four inches from the surface of the ground. This type of hard pruning will also induce new growth to sprout from below ground level. Repeat this procedure every year.

Roses. Prune January to February, well thats what Dave Austin advises :o))

17 Nov, 2014

 

Don't know about fuschias (not fond enough of them to grow them).
Roses - really depend on what sort - ramblers, climbers, shrub, etc. Check out the RHS advice https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=186 or tell us which rose(s).

18 Nov, 2014

 

With fuchsias wait until you can see new growth appearing at ground level. When this happens depends on where you are and on the weather. Then you can cut them back as hard as you want. In a mild winter like last year its just possible this year's stems will still be viable and its tempting to leave them to get a head start. I did that this year and didn't gain more than a couple of weeks flowering time and the lower stems were a bit scraggy looking.

With roses its a good idea to reduce the height in autumn if you are likely to get strong winds. Then prune as Lady Essex advises except that I would wait until March.

18 Nov, 2014

 

Steragram. Can I bring one indoors that is in a pot, would it carry on flowering or would the central heating kill it off?

19 Nov, 2014

 

I'm assuming this is a hardy one. Pity to dig it us and disturb its root system. You can keep them flowering under glass in the winter after a fashion if you want to but I wouldn't try to do it in the house though I've never tried. But honestly I'd let it have a rest over the winter. I think you would get better flowering stems next year if you cut back in spring as suggested. Nothing to stop you taking a few cuttings - its late but you might get them to root in the house in water (easier to see the roots if they do). If they do root you can pot them on and keep them on a cool windowsill out of much direct sunlight for a flying start next year. Take non flowering shoots, green stems only and remove the lower leaves. Don't allow any flower buds to develop on the cuttings as this inhibits rooting.

And if you try to overwinter a mature plant in the house you will get very fed up with all the bits it drops!

19 Nov, 2014

 

Hi. Steragam
Mmmm! I've just read on a fuchsias site that it's not a good idea as they will drop their buds & only last a few week, it's all due to central heating, years ago when we only had coal fires one could put them by a window to keep cool.
Thanks for your info too :o))

24 Nov, 2014

 

They will drop their buds initially but would probably start into growth again afterwards - I did mention the mess! They do like a moist atmosphere though so if you've got central heating everywhere best not to bother.

24 Nov, 2014

 

Thanks for those comments. Great stuff. I wish I had discovered this site years ago.

4 Dec, 2014

How do I say thanks?

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