Fuchsias in spring

A quick guide to my spring fuchsia routine

·      Ignore the mouldering mound of bubble wrap in the corner of the patio for as long as possible until you are told in no uncertain terms to shift it, but definitely not before the frosts have passed.

·      Empty the temporary ponds created by pooling water in the bubble wrap topping which is excellent at preventing frost damage and also really good it turns out at collecting the excessive rainwater we have had this year.

·      Accidentally soak feet in smelly stagnant water when tipping it away.  Swear profusely.

You will need: one wrapped fuchsia and a pair of secateurs.  Huge dandelion is optional

·      Remove outer bubble wrap wrapping from pots, lay all relatively clean bubble wrap out on the grass to dry in the sun, this stuff is expensive, one does not want to be buying it all again next year.

·      Reveal fuchsia and host of weeds you have inadvertently also provided warm and toasty habitation all winter for and find growing big and lustrously inside your pot, so much so in fact its difficult to see the fuchsia.

·      Unceremoniously rip offending weed out plus most of the soil.  Feel smug satisfaction when root the size of a carrot finally comes free.

Remove the bubble wrap to reveal a whopping dandelion you've kept toasty all winter smothering your fuchsia

·      Your fuchsia should by rights be bare and twiggy and look dead, a quick rub of a fingernail against the bark will reveal either a green layer denoting life, or a continuation of brown meaning its a gonner.

·      Cry into soup when realise two of favourite plants have drowned during winter- FYI fuchsias don't like sitting in water and the bubble wrap igloo provided no flood protection.

·      Wipe tears from face and arm oneself with secateurs (on a side note whoever came up with that name needs a slap for choosing something so impossible to spell)

Spread the wet, sodden greening bubble wrap out to dry.  This stuff is expensive!

·      Theoretically should cut 'mass of twigs' back to approximately two inches long right about where plant will probably be starting to sprout from.  However unseasonably warm winter and spring has led to many plants never going completely dormant so already several inches of regrowth.  Chop back as much as can bear/ feel appropriate.

·      If feeling super bothered remove probable covering of moss from soil and take out any free to replace with fresh, or be lazy like me and just feed regularly during the summer.

·      Place pot in desired growing position and water if not already sodden.

·      Mother can now reach her plants you've prevented access to for 6 months, everybody happy.

Pre-prune: What a fuchsia should look like at this point, a mass of bare twigs with the odd sprouting

Post-prune: How most of mine looked this year