Clematis talk

I'm so glad the Jasmine did so well for you, Etelka. It looks lovely. Is that the one with the beautiful scent? I've grown more confident as well and won't be so reluctant to move any clematis that isn't doing well.

Thanks, Riverland. I remember you! We share the exact same birthday! Many clem's I received don't even have five inches of growth to lay horizontally! That is definitely something I could try with my new ones since they're all so tall already.

Thanks for the compliment on the paths. They all have the weed free fabric under the pine needles and I do not have any problem with weeds though sometimes ajuga likes to invade the area but it's easy enough to pull up and either plant elsewhere or discard.

If you can take a close up photo of each clem we can try and guess at the names and you can tell us if the name rings a bell with you. It seems worth a try.

What lovely photos of the clems! Glad that you made it through the storms, Kiseta.....a tornado went over my house last summer, & I still quake just thinking about it! Pirl, you'll have to guess some of mine as well, as the tags are gone. Everyone of mine seems to have made it through the winter just fine, and they all had lime & compost applied before the rain started.

Good job, Marilyn. I ran out with coffee water for the plants I relocated today. Now, of course, it's raining.

We're all happy to guess at clem's here. Fire away!

Since we have had two days of sustained winds - it's going to be sticks to help my itty bitty clem reach the TV tower. There are lotsa stick in my yard for some reason! Thanks for the suggestion Pirl!

Great pictures everybody ~j

The stronger the stick or wayward branch, the better. If you can snap it easily then it won't work as well but it's always worth trying.

Got an e-mail that the last clem order is on it's way. I know what I ordered, I know I had a specific place in mind for them, I just wish I could remember what or where the place is :)

When I'm really thinking straight I take photos of all the places where I want clem's and then match up the clem's and the places in folders. Of course they bloom a different color and then I have to do it all over again...

I have this book on how to build Trellis, Arbors and Pergolas and I found a pattern for a Pyramid trellis. Next week I will try my hand on making one, and run both of my clematis on it. It looks like it is simple, I already have the material and it would be cheeper then buy one. In some catalogue I have seen some for over a hundred dollars. It will maybe cost me $15.00; I have seen yours, Pirl in your last picture, you probobly orderd it from somewhere, because I have not seen them in stores.

Jack made the original one for me, Etelka, and then we had a carpenter build the current one since Jack ran out of patience. It was in an old (1995) Woman's Day magazine.

This is what the obelisk looks like before all the clematises cover it. There were three hydrangeas to the left that have been moved and now only one remains so the clem's should get more sun and grow stronger.

Yes Pirl we do have the same birthday. I love your obelisk. I hope you don't mind but I am going to keep a picture of it for future reference. I have a woodworking Shop but don't build things much like I used too. My hands have arthritis and makes it harder and less enjoyable to build things. I do still dream about making some things. Anyway it is beautiful. Also thank you for the offer to help identify my clems. I may take you up on it. thanks Cindy

afterthought: you must not have nutgrass it can cut through that weed proof fabric like it was toilet tissue. LOL

We do have nut grass but for whatever the reason it doesn't come up in paths, just a few areas and when it pops up in gardens I do take the time to dig it up. It's most difficult when it's in with the Japanese irises because the foliage of the JI's is like a foil for the miserable nut grass.

I can send you close up photos or any measurements you need for the obelisk. Thanks for the compliments about it, Cindy.

This going to be my new one. I will put wire around the pole to give them something to get started on.

I have 3 of these around the gardens with Clem's on them.

This trellis has 4 different Clems on it including the 2 climbing rose's.

The old standard here. I have 2 more of these and 3 taller lattice trellis's.

Very nice, Marie.

Love that leafy globe!

The tall black one is great - gives nice height to a garden even though you have plenty of height with your trees and plants. Lovely area!

Four clem's and two climbing roses will make a fantastic display. What colors?

Your "old standard" is one I've never seen and a real treat for the eyes. It's beautiful.

I got those standards at Home Depot for 6.oo each. On the one with the roses, One is a Josephine pink double and the other ones are purple,
I have another clem that I am going to grow up a rose of sharon this year.

That ground cover you see with the rose and clem trellis. I dont know what it is, but it grows like crazy and you cant seem to kill it. Grab a bunch throw it down somewhere and it will take root. Step on it and it comes back. I dont know what it is, it get pretty yellow blooms on it in the spring.

It would be nice if HD were closer and I could stop in more often to get pretty standards like yours.

The idea of growing a clem on a Rose of Sharon is great since both have to get cut back so it works well.

I think I have that ground cover. It's a sedum and might be 'Golden Carpet' and it is amazing at covering bare ground and rooting where it falls!

That is it. Thank You. It is great and it grows any where. But will take over very fast...lol

Need some help/info. Does Sweet Autumn Clematis need to be pruned. And if so when and how much?

Hope this helps you, Frank:
http://gardening.about.com/od/perennials/a/PruningClematis.htm

Within the article they mention Sweet Autumn Clematis can swallow an entire garden and it can. It also self-sows wildly. Many people have trouble trying to keep up with all the self-seeding it does and willingly/happily give away young plants to unsuspecting people who have no idea of the resulting growth and ensuing work.

One of our Master Gardener neighbors compares it to bamboo - that's how much of a problem it is to her.

To answer your question - Yes, prune it hard.

Dig it up and throw it away if you can,,,lol I have it here by the previous owners and after 9 years I am still trying to get rid of it. It comes up everywhere like she said, and it has almost taken over a complete section of the woods.

Arlene

love the obelisk - mine are more like Marie's. I did have my son put some of the fencing up on a gutter spout though and have a clem planted in that spot. I should take a picture to show that. The clem gets plenty of water.

I really like that leafy globe as well. If I saw that in a store, it is one I would absolutely pick up in a heart beat.. Love it.

SAC needs to be hard pruned. It is a type 3.

I need to get out and trim all of mine back. Normally I have it done by now. I can't seem to get the time when the weather is cooperating to get outside to get them trimmed and fertilized.

Thanks, Carolyn.

We all need all the possible ideas we can use for gardening with clematises.

I feel the same way about that leafy globe of Marie's!

Still haven't checked my dahlias, Carolyn! Time gets away from us all too easily.

Arlene- I did check my dahlias last weekend. The only reason why was becuase we were getting together with my In-laws and I always try to give her divisions of any dalhias that I have that she does not have.... if it had not been for that, I am sure they would still be sitting there!

What wonderful supports for the clems....I have roses & clems on these trellises.....the roses are more established....2 of the clems are 2 years old, the others were new last year....

This is the new obelisk, waiting for my 3 new clems....

Very nice Robin! I need to get an obelisk. I have a Niobe with nothing to grow on.

I got that leafy globe last fall in Lowes for about 10.00.
I was not sure what i was going to do with it at the time but I thought what the hec, I will find something.

Robin Dog, I have a couple like them too. They will also be a support for some clems.

Hubby finally got my two new wood lattice trellis's attached to the side of the deck for the 3 clems there. I will be looking for more unusual item's to grow clems on this year.

Very nice trellises and pillar, Marilyn.

Louise - how about a creamy hydrangea, like Limelight, for Niobe?

Marie - your deck will be spectacular with all the new clematises. Make sure to take photos.

Oh I will take plenty of pictures this summer. All the new clems I got last fall are going to be so pretty.

'planted' a nice branch, with side branches next to my itty bitty clem today. Added more topsoil - the recent torrential rainstorms + winter seems to have washed much away. The I mulched (away from the roots) with pine needles around it. About four little leaves on it, tried a photo but one isn't able to see the clem well right now.

Thanks for the information, hopefully it will be happier this year ~j

I got my order fro Brushwood this week. The clematis were all healthy, but smaller that I expected, with Omoshiro being the smallest at 7-8 in. tall. Today I planted it, along with Huvi, Cardynal Wyszynski, Patricia Ann Fretwell, and Mrs. Cholmondeley in different areas of the yard. I still have Pink Champagne and Miguel Viso to plant. Two Passiflora Clear sky were also planted against and old dogwood trunk that broken in a previous ice storm. I'll post some pictures tomorrow of the plants I received.

Good job, Phil. The clem will appreciate it.

Now, if you have any broken terra cotta pot, or any kind of broken planter, you can use that to cover the root zone to keep the soil/compost in place...

Annette - now you'll have me looking at the ones I didn't order!

Remember it's the roots that count. The tops will grow.

The Passifloras will be heavenly on the old dogwood trunk.

Pink Champagne has always been a favorite of mine:

I can see why, Pirl...what a lovely plant....and a great idea with the broken pottery....I, too, have ordered Omoshiro, along with Ibi, & Gypsy Queen....those are going on the pillar...

That's a gorgeous picture of Pink Champagne. Here's Omoshiro, the smallest of the bunch.

Here it is in it's permanent home. It's been planted in front of a brick and flagstone column that holds the gate to my backyard.

The opposite column has been planted with Patricia Ann Fretwell.