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Garden Gate:  Any Clematis experts on the forum?  |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 11:46:57 AM
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I bought two Clematis about 3 years ago from an on line nursery in the San Francisco area. http://www.chalkhillclematis.com/
One of which, I'd been on the lookout for but could never find it (it was in a Martha Stewart Magazing from 2000 or so and I held onto the picture and name)...until I ran across this nursery.
The Prince Charles (the one I simply added on a whim) is doing splendidly, the one I really, really, really wanted, hasn't even grown a foot and has 4-5 puny leaves. I planted one in full sun on the side of the house, and the one doing wonderfully in front of the house.
So, last week, I moved the puny favorite to the front, opposite the Prince Charles, hoping that will solve my problem.
Any other tips on growing these suckers? What else can I do? What is a rule of thumb in growing them?
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1515 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1515 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 4:18:03 PM
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Jonni, Clematis need to have their roots shaded or protected by a healthy layer of mulch if they are in the full sun, especially if they are planted against a building where they get radiated heat. Clematis also prefer consistent moisture at their root zone(not too much or too little) and do not tolerate poor drainage. Another thing to be aware of is that clematis have different pruning requirements depending on whether they are spring, summer/fall or reblooming varieties. If you cut a spring bloomer in the fall for instance, it will not start sending out new growth until after it's normal bloom period has passed. Good luck - hopefully your favorite plant will be happier with the conditions in front of the house.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2011 : 4:22:46 PM
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I second Marilyn's advice. I always heard they like cool feet and warm shoulders. :)
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2011 : 05:59:37 AM
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I'm so grateful for the information, Marilyn and Connie. I'm hoping this move will help this one become the true beauty I know it can be! It was absolutely breathtaking, clambering over a wall in the magazing. While I'll never be able to replicate that, at least I can (hopefully) have some part of it!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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Miss Bee Haven
True Blue Farmgirl
4331 Posts
Janice
Louisville/Irvington
Kentucky
USA
4331 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2011 : 06:13:53 AM
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I agree with Connie and Marilyn, Jonni. I'm no expert, but I've got one planted at the back of my trailer and the 'feet' are shaded. I bought two others last summer and put them on either side of a trellis thing at the entrance to another garden area(same conditions - shade at the bottom) and they already look great this season. I bet yours will perk right up.
Farmgirl Sister #50
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?"
'Br.Dave Gardner' |
Edited by - Miss Bee Haven on Apr 08 2011 11:27:13 AM |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2011 : 08:32:35 AM
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Well girls...I know how to expertly kill them...does that count? lol
Clematis are one out of two plants that I love and can't grow for the life of me.
The other one is Fuchsias. They both take one look at me and curl up and die, I swear.
So, good luck Jonni. Maybe you can post pictures later.
Hugs and smiles,
~peggy
Farmgirl #1326
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
http://pegsmiles7.wordpress.com
"I'm only as strong as the caffeine I drink, the hair-spray I use and the Girlfriends that I have." |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2011 : 08:56:49 AM
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Marilyn is right on with her advise. Also a funny thing about Clematis is that some will do nothing for several years and then-bang-off they go. When I worked at a nursery the one plant customers brought back was clematis--look it is dead--look it just won't grow. Well we'd pot them back up and they would be fine. So patience with the slow one. And good luck!!! MB
http://www.smallcityscenes.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2011 : 10:11:26 AM
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Thanks, gals. I'm glad to know the cool feet, warm shoulders technique. I will just have to wait and see what happens...I hope I didn't ruin it by taking it out of the ground before it bloomed...The Prince Charles is already sprouting green leaves up and around the vines, so I'm thinking it will be producing those lovely purple flowers again soon.
Maybe my Clematis is one of those "late bloomers" Mary Beth. I can't for the life of me remember the name and the tag is long ago gone by the wayside. Guess it will always be a mystery, but hopefully a beautiful one!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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kittykill
True Blue Farmgirl
608 Posts
Pam
Portland
or
USA
608 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2011 : 11:17:18 AM
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Thank you so much for posting this and the tips. I have a Clematis too and I love it but worry about it.
www.fasterkittykill.blogspot.com
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2011 : 11:30:23 AM
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It's working!!!! I moved the other Clematis just opposite the other in the front flower bed and it's already grown 3 times what it was (and that's not saying a whole lot considering it only ever got to be about 5 inches tall and a few leaves) but I do believe it's working!
Thanks for the advice, girls. Maybe next year, I'll actually have blooms!!!!
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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Ingrid
True Blue Farmgirl
432 Posts
Ingrid
BC
Canada
432 Posts |
Posted - May 12 2011 : 07:44:07 AM
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I have three clematis and they are all in full sun. I have planted other sun plants around the base so the roots are shaded during the hot weather. They don't mind the spring sun on there roots just the hot sun. The first year they were growing I didn't know about the cool roots and the plants struggled. Other than that they need water every day once the consisten warm weather starts. I also cut mine back in the fall and mulch. I know some of them you don't need to cut back but I do anyway.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
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Garden Gate: Any Clematis experts on the forum? |
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Any Clematis experts on the forum?
