June, clematises and chat

I so love reading everyone's post on their clematis. pirl; I enjoy and welcome any advice from all the experts. Two years back I purchased an unlabeled clematis from a huge home improvement store and kept it in the same pot that it came in until yesterday. Found out that it's the "President" awhile back. Boy does he have alot of roots. Is that good? I read in some of the post that it is.

Everytime that I try to plant him out something happens to him. Mainly my DH. So this year I firmly warned DH not to do any damage to him and he listened.

Here's some pics of him still in the original pot and the new pot to grow into. I believe I will plant him out this fall out by the mailbox.

Should I put pine straw in the pot?

Thanks, pearl! You do have a beautiful clematis there. I love The President. The tuteur is lovely!

A lot of roots is a VERY good thing! Be proud of the good job you've done raising it.

You're in Florida so that's twice the reason for using any good mulch on top of the soil to keep the temperature cool and conserve moisture. Be sure to use a lot of mulch when you move it to its new home in the fall.

A lot of roots is very good! Lucky you!

The rectangular grid is from Gardener's Supply, and just happened to be unused when the lilies started getting some height. I supported it with 4 single plant stakes, the metal ones with a little loop on the end, just with twist ties, and raise it as the lilies get taller. Lee Valley has several sizes of circular grids, and various heights of stakes, sold separately so you can customize. I haven't gotten around to ordering them yet...

Yes, I've noticed that FM grows a lot taller than the rest of my peonies. I have 2 clumps, both new-ish. I was thinking this fall maybe I'll combine them into one huge clump, to balance some very old ones nearby. (Oops, wrong thread!)

Thanks for the advice pirl. When I plant him out this fall what would be the best companion plant that wont compete with him and would do well in my neck of the woods?

I agree with Pam!

Thanks for the good source. I'll look into them tomorrow when it's raining...again.

FM has been huge this year and I was sorry to see it flop as it did. No need to be concerned over wrong thread! Many of us have peonies in addition to clematises, roses, lilies, etc. Here it is on June 2nd and then the decline until the rain smashed it on June 8th.

Pearl - I'm not familiar with annuals for Florida but I'd plant anything more than a foot away from the base of the clematis. You'd want something that doesn't self-seed to drive you crazy and something complimentary to The President in color. Maybe peach colored blooms? Or maybe something to match your home? I know some people do plant perennials or shrubs with clematis but that has been disaster for me. I'd stick to annuals.

Beautiful Peony pictures!

I'm checking out my new name listed with my city so folks can call me by my 'real' name:)

Thanks, Karen!

Poor, poor FM :-(

Still one of the very best, IMO, lush, fragrant and always beautiful.

I guess for clems to thrive they're better off without competition. So much for my original ideas about having them grow into established shrubs. It's interesting, though, as time went by, the more I thought about it the less I liked the idea of big flowers in the Rhodies and the box shrubs. I'd rather find other ways to use the vines in the landscape. Hmmm...

Pam, you're very creative...you'll think of something!

There are still a few unopened buds on FM but, of course, we're due for a day of rain tomorrow!

While it is so tempting to grow clematises through shrubs it just doesn't work for me. The Hinoki cypress managed to kill both of the Pinky clematis I had there and now I have The President by a hemlock. It's been there for about 3 or 4 years so I'll have to check it. I keep working in the back but that one is in the front and I don't get to see it. Growing clem's through roses doesn't seem to bother either plant so that's what I'm doing now.

If you have an unoccupied corner of a house or garage it is nice to seem them on trellises on both sides...as long as they get enough sun.

Thanks Arlene - everyone is always confused by my screen name here since it really has no relation to my 'real' name. Of course I had no idea when I chose that how many friends I'd have on here and how confusing it would be:/

You're welcome. People have called me Phil, Pril and a wide assortment of names so I'm glad to know you are Karen (my favorite niece's name).

I have only tried growing clems with my roses....seems good for some, but not others......Red Rambler, a huge climber, is shading the clem with it, while Strawberry Hill, maybe 4' tall, has let the clem grow to the top of the trellis.

A better picture of the AG opening up.

I'm one of those people who loses track of names, also, but I still enjoy the beautiful clems. I have used epsom salts on many of my plants and it's working out very well. Thanks for the info.

The last clematis I bought was a No name one, the lady sold it to me cheep because it was not labeld. Today I noticed the first bloom, it started out az two tone blue, but now is more light purple. The leaves are small and narrow, Anyone knows its name please let me know. Thanks, Etelka

Marilyn - growing clem's through smaller roses seems to work more easily than through huge roses. That being said...I planted Venosa Violacea a few feet from the climbing Royal Sunset and intend to try and train the VV with only a few stems going through the rose to save me some anxiety.

Marie - your Avant Garde is really so beautiful. It shows that all your pruning led to great results.

Roses - they are each gorgeous regardless of the names!

Etelka - It's a class 2 so that narrows down the choices. Maybe another photo or two would help more - in sun that's not too bright. In any event, it's lovely.

Thanks, Pirl. It's difficult to find a Clematis that's not gorgeous.

That's true. Your fourth photo is probably Crystal Fountain and an ideal example of how beautiful it is.

I planted this Moonfleet in too much shade so it benefits the neighbors more than us. I'll have to move it in the late fall.

Very delicate color.....

Yes, it's delicate but much nicer with more sun, Marilyn.

I ordered my second clematis. Brushwood is having a sale and I couldn't resist Piilu. Need to find a spot for her and prepare the site.

Good choice. Nice in sun or part shade. Lots of blooms that aren't huge but also don't fall apart with a breeze.

I just checked on the Plant Files and I see that it's not zoned for my area. Just another challenge for me. No problem there; I can handle it.

So glad to know you're up to the challenge. Checking zones is something I never even consider since all clem's do fine here.

I'm thinking it would want cool soil for the best chance of survival. Some slate would help with that.

Put this one under a tomato cage.

Wrong picture.

This is the one.

I really like seeing all the different pictures of how people have done things. It gives me so many ideas of how I can do something. Also the different Clems that I see and think Wow, I like that one.

Thanks
Marie

Love that setting, Roses!

Very pretty gardens, Terri.

Thanks you. The blooms deserve all the credit.

First, I want to say hello to everyone, I haven't posted in several weeks, and had a lot of catching up to do. All of the pictures are lovely, ane Etelka, I love the way your garden has matured.

Hello to all of the new folks that I haven't interacted with before, and a belated welcome to the clematis forum. Arlene, it's been forever, and I hope all is well with you!

The garden here is doing well, we've had a lot of rain and some flooding, which did damage some of my plants, but not the clematis. They are loving our cooler summer, and the free water they've been getting. I also have clematis blooming now that were done blooming by this time last year.

Here is Durandii from today, it's 2nd round of blooms, and Niobe is peeking through the variegated hydrangea. The 3rd and 4th pictures are of my noid, which I pretty sure is viticella Rubra, after looking at a ton of pictures on the internet. It's blooming a lot later than it did last year.

I have to say I absolutely love Arabella, that has been blooming for weeks. Here is the left back bed with the lilies blooming and 2 Arabellas.

# 2 and 3 Arabella with lily Easter Bonnett and and Tango Dot Com

#4 and 5 Arabella with lily Camelot (pink in the background) and Fata Morgana

Here is the right bed with the other 2 Arabellas.

#2 Arabella with lilies Commander in Chief, and Orange/Yellow lily.

#3 Arabella with lilies Bright Diamonds, Marquee, Pink Perfection and Regal in the background.

#4 Arabella, a closer view with some of the lilies.

Beautiful photos....my clems are being eaten by earwigs!

I just sprinkled the Sluggo Plus that kills earwigs as well as slugs. Looks like a bumper crop of earwigs this year so the dahlias got major sprinkling.

Thanks, Pirl.....

I need to treat my pussy willow, It get eaten every year. One year it had these bugs that covered all the limbs like a blanket. My neighbor said she uses a spray on hers. I got to find out what kind.

Probably Neem oil or Spinosad. I believe both are organic.

thanks. I will get that.