Clematis: CLEMATIS GROWER ???, 1 by docgipe

docgipe wrote:
My choice from Bluestone was: Huldine and Dutchess of Albany. This will give me two class 3 Clematis which should meld and mix nicely going up some twelve to twenty feet. We will finish preparing the holes this weekend or hold off until spring depending on the weather. As of this moment both holes are about ten quart bucket size with good soil filled back in and some compost for the winter. I topped off the holes with a shovel full of raw manure and coffee grounds to draw in the worms. Gave the holes a good drench of fish/kelp tea and a pinch of mycorrhizae. Last I will give the hole area a smattering of rye grass seed hoping the rye will germinate and support or host the mycorrhizae. If this weekend gets cold as forcast here I will tent the area hoping to get germination of the rye.

Today I started hand molding a wire tunnel which will lead the runners up to the arbor. This should stop the critters entering the area where the small tender runners are reaching for the arbor. We will plant the new Clematis and sit the wire over the area with pins to hold it in place. The critters have not bothered my two older plants.

This image shows how nicely I had the last Clematis growing up the arbor.

This has been one of my rare difficult small areas to get growing well. The prep should be right and ready for the arrivial of the new Clematis next spring.