Kimmy - you've purchased some that I've never heard of so I'll look them up and hope I don't buy more until I get places for all of mine. So far I have four placed in my mind. They should arrive very soon.
I'd cut back the eaten clematis and give it a big drink of Epsom Salt - one tablespoon to a gallon of tepid water. It won't hurt to give it to the other one, too.
Maybe it is Japanese beetles. I don't know the insect pests in your area. You could call your Cooperative Extension Service and speak to an agent. They should know best which pest it is and how to treat your other plants to protect them from the same problem.
Our "White Fence Project"
I tell you, I was surprised because it was lush last time I checked it (around 7-10 days ago). I haven't seen a JB yet this year, well maybe a couple, and my basil and rose leaves are spotless so it makes me think it might be something else. I have Epson salts and gave them a drink this spring but will definitely do that again. I will also seek the county's expentension service and see if they can clue me. I have two other large clems in that area (olds standbys....Dr. Ruppel and Cm Brouchard-sorry about the spelling) and all their leaves are fine. I did notice white mealy bugs a couple of weeks ago on this particular clem and washed them off. After doing some reading about them just now, I would bet they might be the culprit.
I tend to get the I don't care anymore attitude about this time of year. It's been very hot and humid here and I just can't do anything outside. Last weekend I moved sprinklers and cut a daylily bouquet and got chiggers just doing those minor things. I run outside, move the sprinkler, then come back inside and take a towel and rub my legs down. That gets most of them but I always miss a few. I also think clems tend to resent this time of year too as we have pretty heavy soil. I do amend my soil with compost but think I need to start doing more--at least spring and fall ! I've added so many the last two years because of this forum and I think I will become more successful as they mature. Or they will have to go to make room for the ones that do!
Mealy bugs are very difficult to eradicate. Here's a link so others, who haven't had them, can see them:
http://www.google.com/search?q=mealy+bugs&hl=en&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4GZAZ_enUS418US418&biw=1134&bih=570&site=webhp&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=aZtCTq7YFsKdgQej9szXCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDoQsAQ
Make sure you cut them all the way back if any have suffered from the mealy bug. I'd also remove the very top layer of soil and replace it with new soil and mulch them! They attacked both of my 19 year old Mandevilla vines and though I've tried to keep them clean it is clear they will be tossed this year. I've bought replacements already.
I'm sure many of us have been affected this summer with the intense heat and humidity. I haven't been out much for the last three weeks but the next two days will find me outside enjoying the gardens again.
Yikes, I didn't realize they were such devils. I will do as you suggest and watch more closely for them in the future. So sorry you've lost 19 year old Mandevilla vines--that's a real shame. Enjoy the next couple of days--looks like you might even get some 70s next week ! kim
Etelka - I wish I had known that grasshoppers bite. When I spotted one on a plant I went to pick it up to throw it to the ground and smash it and it took a quick bite of my hand! I did spot it and I did kill it. In the same area, a short while later I found another "hiding" in the grass. That one is also in grasshopper heaven.
Kim - how's your clematis that had problems? Did you cut it back? I read an interesting article about the value of planting them deep. It seems that if a clematis has a problem and you've planted in deeply enough (and cut it back if leaves have wilted/died/blackened) it will send out new shoots very quickly. I tend to plant them only two inches deep (the earth covering the top of the plant by two inches) but now I'm going to go to four inches. All leaves that would end up under the soil should be removed. I'm all for any plan that will encourage more shoots and more blooms.
Those nasty mealy bugs not only have attacked the Mandevilla vines, which are beyond hope now but the replacements are waiting in the wings on the other side of the house, but they got to one coleus, Elfers, and I only saw it when I had removed large portions to take cuttings. The beauty of any one plant isn't worth risking all other plants so when the rain ends (not too soon, I hope) I will remove it and trash it - no composting of that one! I've just wasted time in the past trying to rid the mealy bug by using alcohol and a Q-tip: no more.
We did have a few nice days and I was out removing that very evil weed - Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon'. It is so beautiful but so very invasive and I'm in the midst of digging it up again. The roots go deeper than I can dig and it goes around huge pine roots making removal even more difficult. It has overtaken 400 square feet and I refuse to be defeated but it's a major and probably life-long job. I'll post a photo showing its beauty but don't think it can be controlled by putting it in a pot without a drainage hole! Wrong! It gets a tiny flower, insipid, and I wouldn't chance any seed from it.
Do not be misled by the beauty of the leaves: this plant is truly evil.
The bed is lined with railroad ties and the Houttuynia goes below them - here's an example of what I've found.
Now I've used a shovel to lift the first of the ties so I can get to removing roots.
Good morning pirl, you should of used those scissors on the grasshoppers, that is what I do. My poor climbing hydrengea is almost dead they munching on it overnight, hope it wont die, it is 4 feet tall. It has been 95 degrees here for 40 days, just clouds no rain. My clematis are still holding on, I guess I am doing something right.
Good morning, Etelka. Your peaches have been our dessert every night! They are divine - thank you so much.
I went out in the heat to remove some weeds and didn't have the scissors hanging around my neck as I probably should so I had no tools for the grasshopper.
Isn't there any control for grasshoppers so you won't lose any plants?
The climbing hydrangea should survive and the stems should show new leaves soon, maybe when the heat calms down to the 80's. Mine has never bloomed so I moved it to a sunnier location. Is yours in full sun in Georgia? I'm just curious how much it can take. Thank you.
It is in a morning sun, afternoon shade right next to the lupins, I have another hydrengia 2 feet from the climbing one and it did bloom, but is is still short, only 18 high. That one is a pale lilac, very nice large head hydrengia. Seems like that the grasshoppers like hydrengia, because I have two 5 year old bushess on the other side of the house and all the leaves are chewd up. I get at least 10 a day, I have tried to spray, but it does not help.
I am glad about the peaches, it is a good year for them , lots of sun. I am of to church, see you later. Etelka
Etelka
Have you tried neem oil on your hydrangea? My understanding from what I was just reading is that neem will only harm the munching bugs and not the beneficial insects. Somehow, it breaks the pattern of the munching bugs. I am wondering if you give your hydrangea a good dose of the neem and water it well, if it will put out more leaves before the end of the season.
I too plant my clematis several inches deeper than the crown of the plant. Also, plant the crown at a 45 degree angle towards your trellis and use plenty of bone meal. This helps to develop more stems, thus more flowers on your plants.
After reading these posts and looking at my clemy, I need to put it further in the ground...I can see the roots!! I dont know if its because I didnt put it in the ground far enough or if I have just had that much wash away. I have that issue all over the yard - have lost so much of the front yard. Dirt runs right down the hill. You know its bad when you have no dirt left on top of the landscape fabric and you can see the roots on the hosta :(
So, I will add that to my list of things to do...replant the clemy a lot deeper. Hope there is enough stem...if not I guess I will just pile on the dirt.
Minne
you can make a 'collar' around your clem. You can either cut the top couple of inches from around a plastic pot or you can use broken pot shards around your clem. Have this collar sticking out of the ground by a couple of inches and around your clematis stems. Then fill in the area around the stems, but within the collar with dirt. This will help to create the same type of effect without having to dig up your clem.
Hi again, carolyn, what is the neem oil and where can I find it.?? I do have new shoots on some of my older hydrengea, I hope to get some new flowers. The problem is mostly whit my climbing one, also I have to firtelize it one more time before the cold comes it, that is before November. I planted my clematis like Pirl told me so and they are doing good for the first year and whit this heat. Here is the left over of my climber.
Etelka
The poor thing! You can find Neem oil in any Lowes or Home Depot in the section that has insecticides and the like.
Carolyn
Minne - You can also use a broken decorative pot to keep the soil in place. Sounds like you have some very serious erosion issues.
That does look a bit sad, Etelka. Let us know if the Neem oil works for you.
