So as mentioned, I do love my fuschia. But it has now so big that by this time of year, it

• turns the big sunny back bed into a shady bed
• blocks all light to the pond and fills it with dead leaves and flowers (so it’s a bit smelly)

I don’t want this. I love the pond (more than the fuschia?). I want two sunny beds not the one which will be all I will have left. (Though maybe I don’t if it we’re in for some very hot summers?).

I am going to think about what to do about this over the winter. Here is a picture of what it looks like now – to remind me when I come to chop it in the Spring!

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I think I should chop the top bits off – so it is always lower and thin it ruthlessly and regularly. Because it was never meant to be a tree – it is a bushy shrub – it will take a lot of persistent work to bring some sun and light back.

There is also a bit of it growing up the fence (it is a MONSTER) and into the sun by next door’s garden. I need to think about how could encourage this instead (it is never going to stop trying). But not until later in the year because I can’t get to the back of the garden right now because of all the spiders.….