I just bought a Clematis durandii in a 2 1/2" pot from Wayside. It looks healthy with a well-developed root system. I want to grow it on a fence that has 2 established clematises: an Etoile Violette and a Duchess of Albany. These 2 are at least 8 years old and huge. I prune them back to about 8" each spring but they have already covered most of the fence with new growth. The crowns of the established clematis are at least 6 feet apart and I would like to plant the C. durandii midway between them. However the fence is already covered by the top growth of the established plants and I don't think the durandii would stand a chance right now.
I was thinking of growing it in a pot until late summer/early fall and then cutting the other two back a bit and planting the durandii between them. Hopefully by the following spring it would have a large enough root system to compete with the established plants. Can clematis be successfully planted in the fall? Does anybody have any idea whether this would work or not? Thanks.
Clematis: David vs. Goliath(s)
I've plant many in the fall when they're on sale and looking all ratty at the nurseries :)
They're all doing just great. I just water them really well with a bit of slow release fertilizer and compost.
Thanks, Dea. I will go plant it in a larger pot and let it spend the summer developing a good root system. Maybe I will sit the pot by the fence so it can get to know the neighborhood before it actually moves in. LOL