A challenging time

In view of these continued rainy days, pruning is still pretty much at the top of my agenda and one plant (fuchsia), in one front garden, had the secateurs forced upon it. A little earlier then I would normally intervene but the weather, it has to be said, is pretty mild.

Lots of weak growth from last year is completely removed and then, and only then, are the strongest stems kept and pruned back, quite hard, to just above a node.  I wanted to prevent all the plant from flowering at the same height so I've taken careful steps to layer the pruning to maximise the spread of the display. 

When completed, I added some bonemeal and applied a mulch.

Sadly not all plants, or trees come to think of it, get this careful treatment.  It looks as if this tree surgeon has been a bit too heavy handed with the chainsaw.  An understatement to say the least...and what a bloody disgrace and eyesore!