Clematis

Hi Pat,
    I live in NE Wisconsin and I have had excellent results
from large flowered Clematis once I learned how to grow
them.

    My first try at clematis was with planats my wife bought
from KMart. I planted them and the first year they grew well
and bloomed beautifully. the second year they came up and
grew well, then Clematis Wilt hit them suddenly virtually
overnight. After they died back, I pulled them out and
sparyed the ground thouroughly with a fungicide. I then
bought healthy  plants from our local nursery (Schroeder's).
I also read up on Clematis culture. I learned that some
varities of large flowered Clematis are more susceptible to
wilt than others, but that the best way to ensure success is
to plant them deeply in sanitized soil ( I use potting mix
bought fromr reputable manufacturers). Against the
instructions, I remove the vines gently from their supports,
and pots, and dig a hole about 18 inches in diam and 8
inches deep. I lay the vines down in the hole along with the
root ball, with several nodes (leaves removed) in the hole,
and the end of the vine protruding out towards the eentual
support. I then cover it up with potting soil, finishing up
filling the hole with a mixture of potting soil and the
original soil. This gets it off to a good start. I train the
protruding vine onto the support or a stick leading to the
eventual support (in my case a fence). I mulch the ground
with an inch or two of shredded bark.  Now water thoroughly.
Keep watering all during the summer, and into the fall. You
should get one or two flowers the first year.

    The next year, prune them back to good buds so that they
will branch. The purpose of burying the nodes is to provide
extra shoots arising from them to replace any that get wilt
(a fungal disease which strikes the stem near the soil
level).  Keep them well watered!!!! Clematis like their feet
damp, and their leaves in the sun.

    There are three types of large flowered Clematis, and
each requires different pruning schedules. You should try
find out what type you are planting and follow the
appropriae ptuning instructions.

Good Luck,
Bob

    good Luck,

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