Clematis: Long hot summer clematis chat, 2 by pirl

pirl wrote:
We in the northeast are heading back to higher temperatures so our respite from the awful heat is over for awhile. It got hot yesterday but I had read an article about the importance of focusing and completing tasks to bring happiness. They also stressed finishing up things we've started. So I took a break, focused on the freezer and finished up the various ice creams there. They were right! I felt much better!

Some good/great news - all the clem's I cut back while pulling them from the scrollwork have rebounded with nice, bright green, shiny leaves. It was 23 days from cutting back to the point you see in photo #1. I did give it, and the rose it grows on - Graham Thomas, rose food and SuperThrive, which I also have come to love.

For anyone who has a deer problem, I tried a new product and love the results as well as the spray. The manufacturer is "imustgarden" and it's simply called "Deer Repellent". If anyone has had difficulty with those big, heavy sprayers, I heartily recommend their own sprayer, pictured below. The second photo is the one I tried first and it works well but then I bought the concentrate, much more economical. Their sprayer cost me $24.99 but it contains a full jug of spray - ready to use. I absolutely love this stuff. The deer spent the last two months feasting on the amaranthus (photo #4) Jack grew from seed but, with constant spraying, they've now left it alone and there is all new growth. The deer have not touched any of the hosta since I've used it nor have they touched the new growth (their favorite part) of any clematis.

The fourth photo shows how the deer munched on the amaranthus - no chance of self-seeding there! Now it's growing back SO fast.

I really feel it's ONLY the new growth they want so for daylilies that send up new buds at an amazing rate (as well as lilies and daylilies next spring), a light but thorough spraying might be needed weekly. It's worth it! The concentrate was $32.99 for 32 oz. You can order directly from them or try to find it locally. http://www.imustgarden.com/index.php?p=product&id=4&parent=8

Just to be clear, I am not affiliated with this company at all. DG Admin Melody knows how much I love this product and this is not an ad, just my own endorsement. I'll check prices when we go to Lowe's today (the excitement just never ends).