Pruning my fuschia

I have a very big hardy fuschia - 2 years ago it was superb, then I cut it right back to almost groung level last spring and it wasnt so good last year. Should I leave some of the very thick stems when I prune it or what?

 

It depends on where you live. Here our hardy fuchsia dies right back to ground level every year, so we have to cut it back. If your area is warmer and the top growth is not frost damaged, then the only pruning needed is to remove dead material and then regeneration pruning. ie cut out about a third of the bush every year, so that eventually nothing is older than 3 years. That way you get plenty of flowers. Oh and why not feed with Rose fertiliser about now?

 

Oh thats great - thanks - I have to get some rose fertilizer so will give the fuschia a drop too