Texas Gardening: Need clematis help, please, 1 by sybram

sybram wrote:
I posted my clematis problem last year, and I got absolutely no help at all. Come on, you guys! Y'all know everything.

The problem is the thing comes out looking so healthy and vibrant. Then, when it blooms, it's gorgeous. THEN, very soon, the leaves start browning on the tips. The brown will eventually get half way down the leaf, but it doesn't seem to affect the blooms.

I've thought maybe it's to dry--too wet--too hot--or too something else. I fertilize with Osmocote. Heck, I don't remember if I put some on it when it first started sprouting, or not. I've heard that these pretties like morning sun, but need cool feet, so I put a stone edging in front of it (so the poor little thing wouldn't get hot feet). I about lose my patience with it every year when I see the browning start, and so early. But.............it's so pretty and about the first thing that blooms around here.

I'd love to hear what you think.