Originally Posted by hellomabel

I agree about the fuchsia, but as it acts as a support for a rampant chocolate vine I'm inclined to leave it unpruned.



Right, I'll do that.



No, I definitely haven't been pruning the hydrangea in the winter. I left it in the hopes that it would recover but it hasn't. I suspect the problem is it's in too-intense competition for water and nutrients from the cherry tree and the other shrubs around it. I'm tempted to move it - the question is where (full sun or dappled shade?) and when (now or ...?).



I dug around the roots to see if there were any shoots or greenery but there weren't (in previous years there have been shoots by now). So I dug it up and replaced it with another one and some fresh compost. As you say, it was probably the fast frost and I hadn't wrapped it for protection.



Thanks for all your suggestions - and I completely agree about our county.
Thanks again!