Re: [SG] Sweet Autumn Clematis in trouble
Roberta - I should have mentioned that I am in NW suburban Chicago (Long
Grove, about 40 miles NW of Chicago) and usually think of this as zone
4--sometimes 5.
I have NEVER thought of sweet autumn clematis as a thug, but you are probably
right. When I lived in Chicago, and parked my car behind my house, the
tendrils used to wrap around my side view mirror every night between dusk and
morning.
Also, I thought I had lost it all this year because the rabbits ate it to the
ground in the spring--but it came back with renewed gusto.
I Will take your advide and both cut it back and thin it out--and think about
moving it to the perimeter after its bloom and putting in something else.
Thanks. I have enjoyed all your posts and found them particularly useful to
my own needs.
Nancy Shlaes deGrazia
Roberta Diehl wrote:
> Nancy:
>
> You CAN cut autumn clematis back and I would recommend thinning out some
> of the shoots to the ground. The only problem is untangling the severely
> tangled stems! Inevitably you miss one or two and end up with some dead
> bits in what's left of the live plant. Then you have to pick those out.
>
> Three of these thugs on one trellis IS a bit much. One would be better.
> I hope the trellis is just a cheapie, because there's a chance that it
> will be crushed or at least damaged.
>
> I forget your location, but around here they punctually bloom at the end
> of August. One sees entire YARDS covered with this plant. It's somewhat
> reminiscent of kudzu. Also, seedlings will spring up all over the yard and
> they are difficult to uproot.
>
> If you want to keep some clematis, another alternative would be to cut it
> ALL back to the ground the moment it has finished blooming but before it
> has set seed. It will come back next year. I admit it is beautiful, but
> not easy to control.
>
> Bobbi Diehl
> Bloomington, IN
> zone 5/6
