Here is part two of the Fuchsia Cut-back lesson.
We covered basket fuchsia winter cutback in the first part. Now we're going to do an easier pruning. We're going to trim back your upright fuchsias that are growing in the ground or in pots. Many times the upright fuchsias are never cut back. they survive that way but you get old woody growth and fuchsia plants that look poorly.

Fuchsias that are old can have spider mite damage, fuchsia gall mite damage, leaf thrips and whiteflies. In other words, everything but the kitchen sink.

First rake away all the leaves, clear out the weeds so you can see the plant well.

In the picture you can see this upright fuchsia as it looked a few weeks ago. I just planted it this summer so it isn't really large.

We're going to take our clippers and just start cutting off the branches. Leaving about 8 to 12 inches of plant above the ground. Then we will clear away all the extra leaves on the plant it self and clean up the ground around it. Any small tiny branches we cut off all together. If you have had bad infestations of insects or fuchsia gall mites it wouldn't hurt to give the bare plant a spray. Either a light oil spray like Ultra fine or a good miticide. Go ahead and cut it all back. Now all you have to do is just wait. The new growth will start in a few weeks.

Above is the plant with just a hint of new growth.

This is the way the plant looks after just about 3 weeks. I had to clear out a ton of Liquid Amber leaves to show detail on the new growth.

As your upright fuchsia begins to grow well you can do a little more selective trimming. Encouraging the best upright branches and trimming off the ones that are not so good. You don't really need to pinch upright fuchsias unless you want a really low bushy plant.

This lesson is a pretty easy one but remember that nothing happens until you get out into the garden and make it happen.