Pruning Fuscia and keeping dandelions

Dear Ms. Binetti,

I was enjoying your column this morning until I got to the pruning part and froze. I pruned the long branches off my perennial fuchsia about a month ago – just as your article said not to do – and now it’s producing green at the base. Every year, if memory serves, I’ve cut back the branches maybe a little later when there was more green to be seen. Hopefully I haven’t done it damage this time. My reasoning was, the branches were dead, what good are they? Now I know. Do you think it will still be okay? The weather has been so warm, and we always keep the pot next to the house under an eave. Hoping I didn’t jeopardize it.

Also, regarding the dandelions: I’ve always pulled up dandelions every year and found them highly annoying until I read an article saying we need to leave them for the bees. This is one of the first early flowers that comes out that bees can gravitate to for sustenance. It was kind of ironic that the picture you provided had a bee snacking on one I now leave them and feel great about it. I thought I’d pass that bit of new knowledge on to you!

Thanks for your very helpful column every week 🙂

Posted by Liz Steenbeeke on April 7, 2019