Help with azaleas and fuchsias

[Eurosceptic]

Hi

Thanks for previous advice on dead heading hydrangeas. We planted two azaleas (first two photos) and two fuchsias (second two photos) late last summer.

Neither of the azaleas flowered and just about survived winter. One (photo 2) is particularly withered.

Ditto fuchsias. (Photos 3 and 4) Am I right in thinking the one in photo 4 is as dead as a door nail?

Bed is on western side of a north facing garden, next to a fence.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you

 

[aveatry]

I would leave them and see what happens, once we get some decent sun on them. I have had plenty of plants I thought dead but with patience they came back.

 

[Tricky-Dicky]

Photo 4 plant, scrape a low down twig with your thumb nail on the brown bark.
If the revealed colour is brown the shrub is dead.
If the revealed colour below the bark is green, then the shrub is alive, and ready to spring into life.
(Test one of the other shrubs to reveal the green stem).

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Definitely give the fuchsia longer, mine are only just showing signs of life now so there's time for it to do something.

 

[Old Salt]

Different fuscias flower at different times. Leave it alone and it may well burst into bloom. Azaleas need ericaceous compost or low ph soil so it may be worth checking what type of soil ph you have.

 

[Eurosceptic]

Thanks for all these helpful responses. Last time I checked, think soil was pretty neutral.

 

[Old Salt]

Some ericaceous compost forked in around the base of the azaleas may help.

 

[Eurosceptic]

Photo 4 plant, scrape a low down twig with your thumb nail on the brown bark.
If the revealed colour is brown the shrub is dead.
If the revealed colour below the bark is green, then the shrub is alive, and ready to spring into life.
(Test one of the other shrubs to reveal the green stem).

Just tried quite a few of the twigs (low down). Thankfully, still v green. Thanks again.