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Don’s Expert Answers: 100 year old Fuchia tree – how can it be saved

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Question From: 
Oli Barwald in  Richmond,  Melbourne VIC

 

Nature of problem: 
100 year old Fuchia tree – how can it be saved

 

Type of Plant (if known): 
Fuchia

 

Symptoms of Plant Illness (please try NOT to diagnose your problems yourself): 
Will be cut down

 

Soil Type (e.g. sandy, clay or loam) OR Potting Mix Type: 
Under cement path

 

How often do you water the plant:
Never

 

How many hours of sunlight does the plant get each day:
6

 

What type of plant is it:
see attached

 

How long since you planted it:
maybe 100 years old

 

Have you fertilised? If so, with what and when:
nope

 

Is the plant indoors or outdoors: 
outdoors

 

Is the plant in a pot or in the ground: 
ground

 

What other treatments have you given the plant: 
nothing

Upload photo if available: 
IMG_2213.JPG

Other Comments: 
Hi guys

I have a fuchsia tree with a 15cm trunk and it has been living in my backyard for around 100 years (i think). Its roots live under a cement courtyard. We are about to demolish the house and as much as I would like to keep the tree (I think it is cool and interesting) my wife dislikes it. I would like to know if Don or someone from the team could call my wife/have a look at it and
1 – convince my wife it is worthwhile trying to save if possible
2 – suggest someone else who can transplant it/move it to a better home
3 – have a contact for the burnley botanical gardens, maybe they might be interested in it.

I would prefer not to cut it down and put it in the bin

Cheers

Oli 0419 881 623

 

Answer:  Hi Oli,  That is a stunning fuchsia tree. It definitely needs to be saved. I am certain that Jim Fogarty (landscape designer and landscaper) could design a beautiful garden around this plant. Properly framed, it would EVEN look good to your wife. Jim will also know how to fence the evil builders off from the poor plant – which they will kill out of utter incondsiderateness and pig ignorance. Jim is in my opinion Australia’s best landscape designer,  <[email protected]>    Don

 

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