Re: Sweet Autumn Clematis in trouble
Thanks Nancy - send it to me = broutek@worldnet.att.net
===========================================================
----- Original Message -----
From: Nancy S. Shlaes <nsshlaes@AMERITECH.NET>
To: <shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 1999 5:38 PM
Subject: Re: [SG] 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
>
