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What to do with a massive fuscia

jillwoodhead72jillwoodhead72 Posts: 22
in Problem solving
Hi I have recently purchased a property with a massive fuscia..it's been there a while and it's got branches like a tree and is about over 7 feet high and the same across I've  removed  some of the branches  and it's still a good size..could I cut it down  hard as its next to a drive and nothing grows under it as it's  too dense.?.don't really want to kill It as its nice is summer with tons of flowers but  it more of a tree than a bush now!

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It sounds like a hardy fuchsia - probably one of the magellanica types. You can cut it down as hard as you like and it should regrow. The best time to hard prune them is in spring just about as the new growth is starting to appear, but if it's in the way you could take some off now and the rest in spring. If it's a variety that wants to be big it could easily make 5 or 6 feet of growth in a season from a hard spring pruning.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd agree with @JennyJ. They can take a fair bit of abuse  :)
    It's no problem to take some off now if it's really encroaching on your drive. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    "The best time to prune is when you are in the mood."

    With the info we have been given, I would cut it back now.  But expect to tidy up any late spring frost damage later.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    I've got one that I've been trying to remove for several years.  Each year I cut it hard back and remove all the root I can find.  By late summer it's back just as strong, and laughing at my feeble attempts to defeat it.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @jillwoodhead72 Prune in the Spring when new growth starts. You can cut back hard preferably to just above a shoot.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • jillwoodhead72jillwoodhead72 Posts: 22
    Thank you for all the great comments..I have cut it back very hard..we have mild conditions at the moment..we shall see in spring..I didn't plant it so I'm not too bothered if it dies I will just plant lots of flowers there!
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