Pruning help please?

Hello all, I haven't been on for a while as it hasn't been worth getting out in the garden. The last of the summer stuff has finally died back though and the bulbs are poking through so I've been out for a tidy up and of course now have some questions!
Firstly, I have 4 plants which I think need pruning, but I'm not sure how to go about it.
There is a hydrangea

A caryopteris heavenly blue

And 2 fuchsias-sarah brightman

and star wars

I had a bit of trouble with the starwars last year as a lot of the flowers were right at the bottom of stems, in the soil. Is this the right time of year to prune? Up till a couple of weeks ago, all but the caryopteris had buds on still!
Thanks for any advice

 

Hi daisybelle, I usually prune hydrangeas February time and the fuschias in early spring. In a hard winter they can be hit by frosts and the top growth will give them a little protection.

I have no idea whhy your starwars is behaving like that as I don't have one of those.

 

Daisybelle, I would cut the Fuchsias down to about 2", the Hydrangea just take out any dead material for now, and prune fairly hard ( by about a third ) after flowering. The Caryopteris I would just tidy up.:thumb:

 

For Hydarngas I tend to prune in spring removing a few old stems completly and shortening remaining stems by a few buds.

Its important to take out a few of the older stem so as to get new basal shoots as oposed to getting only very woody stems that flower sp****ly.

 

Thanks everyone
When you say after flowering Dai, I've only just cut the flowers off today and they were quite fresh until recently, so should I do it now? And there are already buds all up the stems, do I need to cut above or below them, or will anywhere do?
Thanks!

 

At this time Daisy I would just cut back to the nearest bud. And cut back about October time. As yours is in a pot it wont need much work anyway.:thumb: