Did you know that hardy fuchsias fare well in the climate of the Pacific Northwest? The following is part of our ongoing series of articles about hardy fuchsias by PowellsWood gardener and consultant Jackie LaVerne. Click here for the full Fuchsias 101 Archive!
FUCHSIAS 101: Fall Care for Hardy Fuchsias
by Jackie LaVerne, Owner of Magellanica Gardens Nursery
A little extra attention to your hardy fuchsias in the fall can help see your plant through the cold winter months.
Once the first hard frost of fall has occurred, your hardy fuchsias will look wilted and the blossoms will fall off. Resist the urge to cut the plant back. The old growth, while looking like a bunch of dead sticks, provides insulation for the plant during the winter, and helps to prevent rot from cold freezing rain.
As additional protection during the winter, you can pack maple leaves (or whatever kind of leaves you may have in your fall clean-up) around the base of the plant. In early spring, be sure to remove the leaves to allow the sun to warm the soil and to provide the plants with good air circulation.
With a little bit of care through the winter, you’ll be able to enjoy your treasures come spring!
This entry was posted on 10/01/2011 in How to Care for Fuchsias, Northwest Gardening Blog by PowellsWood
Folks frequently ask about planting hardy fuchsias in the late summer/fall. I caution it may be risky, that spring planting is best.
What would be your advice?