Re: Sweet Autumn Clematis in trouble
Cajun Joe - the Chicago Botanic Garden put out a plant evaluation for Clematis
vines last winter. I don't know how appropriate it would be New Orleans, but I
would be glad to send you a copy either as an attachment or a fax. Let me know.
Nancy Shlaes deGrazia
Joseph Brouillette wrote:
> Hello everyone - I live in the New Orleans area and have tried to grow
> clematis twice, but without success. Are there special secrets about growing
> these beautiful vines? Can you suggest names of a few of the most vigarious
> ones for me to try again? Finally - a good mail order source if you can
> please - Thank you = Cajun Joe
>
> =============================================================
> > Marge - life ain't fair sometimes. I had decided to let the clematis go
> and
> > see what happens with it--until about 15 minutes ago. WIth a sudden burst
> of
> > resolution and energy, I cut it back (not too severely) because it was
> > beginning to tumble dowen and the string isn't really good enought. I
> found a
> > layer of yellow leaves underneath, and it looks pretty bad now-- but the
> damage
> > is done.
> >
> > As you can imagine, I started out with surgical precision, trying to get
> those
> > stems that were coming down and not those that were going up, and ended up
> > hacking more than I should.
> >
> > Then I came in and read my e-mail -- and your message.
> >
> > I am sure you are right and I will keep you posted.
> > What irony.
> >
> > Nancy Shlaes deGrazia
> >
> > Marge Talt wrote:
> >
> > > Nancy, if you got a reply to this, I missed it....so ignore. If not,
> best
> > > to wait until next spring (really early, just as buds are breaking) to
> > > prune this Clematis. In spring, you can cut it back practically to the
> > > ground - best just beyond a breaking pair of buds.
> > >
> > > If you cut them back hard now they will not bloom and may take exception
> to
> > > the treatment and die on you...I did that once and lost one big one.
> It's
> > > probably hopeless to cut back only a few stems at this point since they
> are
> > > no doubt attached to each other all the way up....
> > >
> > > They will climb 15 to 20 feet or more, if permitted ,and get quite woody
> at
> > > the base, but can and should be cut back in spring or you end up with
> this
> > > incredible tangle of old, dead runners and new growth - a total mess.
> > >
> > > I'd just let yours climb the strings - if they reach the end, they will
> > > twine around each other and arch out. If your string is strong and well
> > > connected, it ought to hold for this year.
> > >
> > > Or, you can get some of that heavy duty green plastic fencing sold at
> Home
> > > Despot and other DIY stores and nail it to your garage with a 1x1 wooden
> > > spacer behind it to hold it out from the garage wall. SA Clematis love
> to
> > > climb on this stuff.
> > >
> > > Or, you can take your strings down and just let them hit the top of the
> > > trellis and arch out and down....they won't mind this in the least..and
> > > then cut them back next year. They will grow on the ground, on
> shrubs,
> > > on stumps, on walls, on anything, really...these are pretty tough
> plants.
> > > Be aware that they do tend to seed about freely; once you have them, you
> > > are not going to be without them:-)
> > >
> > > I see no problem with 3 plants on a 12 ' wall - they will simply cover
> it
> > > and that's probably what you had in mind. You can move these in very
> early
> > > spring with no problem. I regularly dig them up from where they put
> > > themselves and move them or give them away....have even done it as late
> as
> > > June, but they don't like getting cut back hard then very much.
> > >
> > > Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> > > mtalt@clark.net
> > > Editor: Gardening in Shade
> > > current article:Hot, Hot, Hot Garden
> > > http://suite101.com/welcome.cfm/222
> > > All garden topics welcome page:
> > > http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/3425#top5
> > > ----------
> > > > From: Nancy S. Shlaes <nsshlaes@AMERITECH.NET>
> > > > Date: Sunday, July 04, 1999 7:39 AM
> > > >
> > > > I have 3 beautiful, easy to grow sweet autumn clematis in their second
> > > > year on a trellis on my garage wall. The trellis is 6 plus feet but
> the
> > > > cleamtis wants to keep on going---AND ITS ONLY JULY 1.
> > > >
> > > > This week I extended the trellis with sturdy strings held up by nails
> > > > but foresee trouble ahead. It is just too heavy.
> > > >
> > > > Should I:
> > > > (A) cut in back--and if so, how much
> > > > (B) cut some of its stems back to the ground -- which is pretty
> > > > difficult to do with clematis--impossible I think
> > > > (C) any other suggestions.
> > > >
> > > > It is fall blooming and is not yet in bud.
> > > >
> > > > Second question. Should I have planted 2 plants instead of three
> > > > originally on my 12 foot wall, and should I remove one next year?
> > > > Many thanks for your help, nice people, h=and have a happy
> > > > Independence day weekend
> > > >
> > > > Nancy Shlaes deGrazia
