Could someone give me advice on my clematis, I bought this 2 or 3 years ago, I didn't know I was suppose to cut it back. In the picture starting at the bottom of pic, http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=2396838 could someone tell me is it to late to cut back this fall, if not where would I cut back to.
thanks Connie
Clematis Question
Is that tree dead? If not and you placed a raised bed "high around" the trunk of the tree... you're going to end up with a dead tree.
If it is alive and that Clematis is planted that close to the trunk, the tree will out-compete the Clematis. If the tree is dead, then great. Moving on...
Now I'm only a gardener but common sense tells me to wait till it (the clematis) takes a break from blooming and you come along and simply cut it back halfway and throw some granulated fertilizer at it. Now wait till next year.
Come next spring and while things nature is beginning to wake up, throw some more fertilizer at it and watch and wait until you see "the most growth" toward the bottom occuring and simply prune above that "spot."
Now I'm just a gardener, but that's what I'd do.
Dax
Thanks Dax, The tree is a Berch and very much alive. It's been there for ever. (hubby is a tree fanatic) The clematis seems to do okay here but just didn't know about the pruning of it. I had 2 of those clematis, but when hubby put in his climbing roses, he killed it.
So just cut it half way this fall and fertilize it, then prune it back next spring. Got it.
What is a good fertilizer to use on this. I just planted 2 elsa spath in my front garden spot and I don't want to lose these either, I love clematis' would love to grow them all over my back yard lol but hubby wouldn't go for it. :(
Connie
Cut them back now Connie and sacrifice some flowers:) You aren't going to want to fertilize past Aug 1st for the most part.
You'll still get it to replenish blooms and quickly. Or, you simply wait till next spring and year by year cut it back until you have a lot of vines coming along. Same type of process with the same result. Cuttting it back right now however, will just beef it up quicker.
You're still planted way to close to a large-growing tree. It'll keep the water away from the clematis and fast. You had best to move it.
See ya,
Dax
Connie, that's a Group 3 clematis: Venosa Violacea. I do not cut back my Group 3's in the Fall, I wait until about mid-March and then I snip away. The way to cut down a Group 3 is to cut it all the way down to a bud about 12" off the ground. The clem will grow back as tall and more. Group 3's bloom on new wood so you don't have to worry about losing blooms.
My advice is to just let it grow and then cut it back next March. It will certainly be just fine.
This message was edited Jun 16, 2006 5:42 PM
Here is a picture of my Jackmanii from last June. I had cut it down to about 12" off the ground in March as I explained above and this is how it looked by mid-June of the same year. Jackmanii is a Group 3 clematis.
This message was edited Jun 16, 2006 5:34 PM
Connie: I agree, don't cut it back until early March! Group 3's should be cut back to about 1 ft above the soil level. Pruning encourages the vine to be bushier & develop more flowers, instead of tall & sparse blooms. Just keep it watered and you can fertilize it with either Rose or Tomato food through August. Don't fertilize in the Fall as you don't want new growth developing that late in the year.
Meig: Beautiful Jackmanii! What else is blooming in red?
I agree and agree.
Later guys,
Dax
Thanks, Shirley. The little red one is Madame Julia Correvon. Unfortunately, we moved from this house last year and my new place doesn't have mature *anything* yet. I have some clems in the ground, but they are sleeping, and I just got a few from Donahue's that I put into larger containers to plant later in the season.
I miss my mature clems! Waaaah!
Here's a pic of my old Dr. Ruppel.
That's a beauty Meig! Mine likes to get wilt... It's old too. It bloomed well in Spring as always then 1/2 wilted, now I have some again 'going up'. The dammmm thing.
Here's my very first bloom from 'Comtesse De Bouchard' - photo from a few days ago on a plant that was planted a month or so ago.
Dax
A trio - 'Diablo' "Ninebark" in the back - an unknown white mutant clematis with green leaf portions in every flower, and 'Rhapsody'.
Photo taken a few days ago as well. Dax
montana 'Rubens' - been blooming already which I didn't notice till the other day.
Here's a quick snapshot of a flower.
Have a nice day everybody!
Dax
Oh they are all just beautiful, and thanks so much. will get some fertilizer asap. Connie
I do have one more question, Do these clematis produce seeds? I would love to have some more like this one, If they do, where would I find them.
Connie
Meig: Viticella "Madame Julia Correvon" is a beauty! The great news is that this Type 3 Clematis NEVER gets that dreaded wilt!
Dax: "Comtesse De Bouchard" is lovely, as well as, Montana "Rubens". I didn't have any luck with the "Comtesse". It never came back. Your Montana is going to get huge. Hope you give it plenty of growing room!
Connie: All Clematis produce seeds. However, growing them from seed takes many years before flowers will bloom. Plus, they do NOT grow true from seed. They will not be identicial to the parent plant.
oh learned something new again :)
Hi Shirley,
That's because you "girls" are growing them!
Don't cut a Clematis back now... bs!
It'll be just all that much better next spring when you hack it low.
Women...
(Just kidding of course!)
Have a great day.
Dax