Before you tuck your fuchsias in for their winter nap, there’s one big chore you shouldn’t skip: a good, hard pruning. Getting rid of those old stems and leaves is key to a healthy plant next season. Here’s the lowdown on why we do it and how to get it right.
Why Pruning is a Must
There are a few great reasons to keep your fuchsias trimmed. First off, it clears out the old, woody growth that’s just taking up space. See, fuchsias only bloom on *new* wood. Those old branches aren’t going to give you those gorgeous flowers you love, and they can actually get in the way of the plant growing evenly. By cutting them back, you’re giving your fuchsia a “reset” button, encouraging it to push out fresh, vigorous shoots and way more blooms come springtime.
Timing is Everything
The best time to grab your shears is in the fall, right before you move them indoors for the winter. For the varieties that can’t handle the frost, a radical cut-back is a game changer. Not only does it make the plant much easier to store (hello, extra shelf space!), but it also means the plant doesn’t have to waste energy maintaining old, scraggly stems all winter. It saves that energy for a big burst of growth in the spring.
Know Your Fuchsia Type
Before you start snipping, you need to know what kind of fuchsia you’re dealing with. The rules change a bit depending on whether they are:
- Hardy (winter-proof) fuchsias
- Non-hardy (tender) fuchsias
Pruning Hardy Fuchsias
If you have hardy fuchsias planted in your garden that stay outside all year, you can actually put the shears away for now. There’s no need to prune them in the fall because the top part of the plant will naturally die back once the freezing temperatures hit anyway.
Pruning Non-Hardy Fuchsias
For the tender varieties that need to come inside, a pre-winter haircut is standard practice. However, *how* much you cut depends on where they’re spending the winter.
If you’re storing them in a cool, dark spot like a basement or cellar, go for a radical prune. Cut them back hard and strip away all the old leaves and stems.
On the other hand, if you’re lucky enough to have a bright, slightly warmer spot like a greenhouse, you don’t have to be quite so aggressive in the fall. In this case, you can wait until early spring to do your heavy pruning right before you move them back outside.
