Cutting back plant

[stevie-p]

excuse the spelling...i have 2 fushias?? in pots in my garden now they have flowered,im just left with brown stems about 18/24 inches high,should i cut them down now or wait or leave them...thanks

[logman]

Its generally exepted as a good idea to leave the dead stems on fuchsias over winter or in early spring when frosts are still a threat, as they do give a little frost protection down below.

When you see the new shoots comming up, this is usually a good que to cut back the dead stems. All the best..

[stevie-p]

thanks very much.

[WendyS]

Don't know which part of the country you live in but if you suffer from severe cold and frosts I'd be tempted to leave the brown stems until fresh shoots come through to protect against harsh weather.

The other way of protecting them is to cut the stems hard back in autumn, put a large plastic pot over them and anchor with a stick through the holes in the base of the flowerpot to prevent it blowing off in heavy winds.