hardy fuchsia planting instructions

Swansons is happy to offer a wide selection of Hardy Fuchsias for the garden. Proper planting and maintenance are essential to your success. With a little care, your Fuchsias will provide years of beauty and enjoyment with minimal trouble. For information on specific plants, please consult individual cultivar signs, or one of Swanson’s nursery professionals.

CULTURE

Hardy Fuchsias like a rich soil with plenty of nutrients and water. They require a deep root system in order to give best performance. While mostly planted in shade or partial shade, they do very well in full sun, as long as they are not against a south or west wall with intense reflected heat.

PLANTING

To maximize size and bloom, special attention is required when planting. This method differs markedly from that recommended for small shrubs and perennials.

Dig the planting hole approximately 16”-18” wide and 12”-14” deep. Set this soil aside in a wheel barrow or on a tarp.

Breakup and loosen the remaining soil in the bottom of the hole. In the case of slow draining soil, add some coarse washed sand or compost, working it in well for an additional depth of 6”-8” to a total depth of 18”. This is primarily a drainage area and will not require added nutrients. Amend the soil you set aside with 30% by volume of Soil Building Compost. Add a handful of an All Purpose Organic Flower or Vegetable Fertilizer. Place this mixture back into the hole leaving the soil level 4”-5” lower than the original soil level. Water in to settle the soil.

Slightly loosen the rootball of the plant, strip off the bottom 4“ of leaves and place it in the hole so that the top of the root ball remains 4”-5” lower than the original soil level. Fill in with soil covering the bottom 4”-5” of the plant’s stems. New roots will form below the ground thus making the plant much hardier to cold temperatures.

In the fall, mulch 1”-2” with leaves or bark. Do not prune. In spring after last frost, usually around mid-April, pull back the mulch. Carefully prune out old spindly growth from the crown and the center of the plant. Wait to see if new growth emerges from the old stems. If it does, leave branches alone. If frost has damaged or killed last year’s branches, prune them to the ground and new shoots will
replace them from the established root system.