Pruning dead looking fushia and fox urine

Hi all,

I've been in the garden this week for the first time since winter and I saw my fushia Bush looking pretty dead and gone. I've read it usually dies back during winter but it's looking pretty bleak! I've attached photos of how it looked back in April and now.

I think there's a good chance that one or two foxes that have been running amok have been urinating in the soil around the fushia because everywhere else has been covered with cardboard mulch.

What's the best thing to do if fox urine is the culprit?

It looks like there are some pink buds so all hope is not lost, I think? But I have no idea how I should prune it. There doesn't seem to be detailed advice like there is for pruning rose bushes (vase shape, above a bud, at an angle etc.). Any tips?

 

I don't think the foxes 'watering' your plants has done any damage, just the attack on the senses with the smell. Pruning wise, I'd cut everything down to about a foot, leaving just three or four thicker stems.

 

Thanks @flounder, I'll give it a go.

(UGH THE SMELL!!!)

 

We cut ours right down low...just braved the cold and snapped these two.

 

Whoa, that's a lot! I keep forgetting you have to be pretty ruthless when gardening.

Okay, I feel better about taking a lot off it now.

 

Have to admit I'm not so bold...so my hubs does all the cutting back every year, he's more ruthless!!They are both quite old now and come back each year, growing quite large in fact!!

 

I want to be ruthless!!

Thanks for the advice, I cut them down to 20-30cm yesterday. (couldn't bring myself to go all the way. ) Looking forward to seeing them thrive this year.

 

You can do either, leave them uncut or a very light tidy up will help protect things lower down and if they survive and make buds all down the stems they will make bigger bushes sooner.

The more you cut them back the more they will shoot from the base or underground and take a bit longer to reach a good size.

Either way, depending on how cold it is and how exposed your plants are it can be as late as April or even May before you see any new buds, so do not assume they are dead when other spring flowers are out.