Synopsis
Fuchsias are among the most popular and versatile of garden plants, often flowering all the way from late spring until the first autumn frosts. They come in an enormous range of colours - from white and pale pink to deep purple and blue - and they can be grown both outdoors and inside, in summer beds, greenhouses, containers and hanging baskets. They also have many different growing habits, from upright and bushy to trailing and cascading, and are easy to train into graceful shapes such as standards, pyramids, espaliers and fans, or even bonsai and topiary. This book shows how to grow fuchsias in every possible setting - from permanent beds and cottage gardens to urns and window boxes. Indoor fuchsias need different treatment, and there is useful advice on growing them successfully in the house, as well as how to overwinter fuchsias in the conservatory and maintain cool conditions for them in the summer shadehouse. A comprehensive techniques section looks at every aspect of basic fuchsia care, from selecting varieties and choosing the right composts and feeds through to propagating, potting on, multi-planting, pruning and training. Advice on how to deal with pests and diseases is included, as well as a detailed calendar of care to remind you of key tasks throughout the year. An illustrated directory of over 500 fuchsias provides the perfect resource for growers and enthusiasts looking for the best - as well as interesting and unusual - varieties to try. Each entry consists of a description of the colours and size of the flowers and foliage, the growth habit, hardiness, recommended zones, the plantĘs original hybridizer and year of introduction, and many have helpful identification photographs. With a wealth of hands-on practical advice, step-by-step instructions and 800 specially commissioned colour photographs, this is the ideal reference book for everyone who has a passion for these beautiful and well-loved plants. How to grow fuchsias in the garden, from summer bedding, shrub borders and rockeries to permanent beds, hedges and cottage gardens, as well as expert tips for growing fuchsias indoors, in conservatories, greenhouses and shadehouses Over 800 beautiful colour photographs, including many specially-commissioned practical how-to pictures Ideas for growing fuchsias in a wide range of containers, including pots, urns, troughs, boxes, hanging baskets, chimney pots, planting bags and flower tubes Practical gardening techniques, such as selecting and buying fuchsia plants, choosing composts and feeds, hybridizing, propagating, potting on, planting, pruning, overwintering, and controlling the most common pests and diseases Specialist step-by-step instructions for making trained shapes, such as shrubs, bushes, standards, pyramids, pillars, espaliers, fans, bonsai and topiary An illustrated directory of hundreds of fuchsia varieties, including those suitable for growing as standards, trained structures and summer bedding, plus hardy varieties, hanging basket candidates, unusual cultivars and recent introductions "A fantastic book full of facts and great pictures. A 'must-have' for both the newcomer to fuchsias and the more experienced grower. It is easy to understand and encourages us to have a go!" Carol Gubler, President of the British Fuchsia Society
About the Author
John Nicholass runs his own local gardening business in the south-west of England. He is very interested in all aspects of gardening, and has collected and grown fuchsias for more than 25 years, both in his own garden and for exhibition at local and national shows. He is on the committee of the British Fuchsia Society, and both secretary and show secretary of the Bristol Fuchsia & Geranium Society. Peter Anderson is a highly respected garden photographer. He has worked for many book publishers, and magazines such as Gardens Illustrated. His publications include: Organic Gardening; The Gardener's Guide to Shrubs and Climbers; The Gardener's Guide to Planting and Growing Trees; The Illustrated Practical Encyclopedia of Pruning, Training and Topiary; How to Create a Wildlife Garden; and The Gardener's Guide to Propagation (all published by Lorenz Books).
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