Clematis

Me, too, but it's still confusing. They say one color but show another.

I buy my Clematis from www.bluestoneperennials.com the plants are very young and small but they catch up.

I just ordered 9 clematis from Debbie @ Silver Star. She is amazing, isn't she? This is also my first order.

OK - I'm off to Debbie's.

She is a very nice person and will always get back to you and answer any questions. The photos I have seen of the roots of clematis people have received from her are stunning.

Oh you guys... I am getting weaker by the minute>>>>

Victor and Pirl,,, this is where I plan to have sombreil and Niobe

this is from another angle...

all those bushes will be removed... and the 2 covers are the septic tank... who in their right mind do a septic tank in front of a house??? can you guys believe that the covers used to be buried and every year the septic people had to dig the the garden to find the covers??? I was so upset... so this year I want to do some sort of covering... I am thinking of something that I can put a nice plant on the top... tons of possibilities...

this is a picture last summer

Woweeeee I am getting so excited!!! Come on spring and hurry up!!! I can't wait to get my hands dirty again!

Thanks for sharing all your clematic pics and information! I just love it!

Dawn - I knew something was wrong but couldn't figure it out. My hands have been spotless for too long!

Hi Kassia,

The other consideration is how easily the clematis can cling. That trunk looks pretty thick. Clematis like to wrap around things with their tendrils. They don't attach to trees and structures like ivy or climbing hydrangea do. Of course you could always attach something to the tree since it will be dead.

On your septic covers - lots of possibilities. Simple one is a large lightweight pot (Home Dept, Costco) turned upside-down. Then put a nice seasonal planter on top of it.

Victor

Kassia: it's not uncommon for septic tanks to be in the front of the property. In the past people would put up fences around their property and the fence had to come down for the heavy equipment to get in the yard for a new septic tank. Putting it in front made more sense. They just use a probe and don't dig up lawns to find the tank. I've seen it done three times, right here on our own property!

Victor is 100% right about the clematis not behaving like the climbing hydrangea. If your clematis decides to grow wild, as some do, you'd be miserable. They are gorgeous vines when they're flowering. When they aren't they can be almost an eyesore. Learn the pruning habits of each one so you'll know which ones can get a "haircut" after blooming, leaving your vines looking neater and cleaner.

I'll go looking for photos to help you out with thoughts to obscure the septic tank cover.

Kassia, I use a large inverted pot like Victor. You could put in a fake water well or a nice piece of statuary.
Don't forget they will need access to the cover.

Absolutely!

See the black cap for the buried propane tank?

Now you can't see it.

It's magic!

Funny! Actually it's tall white phlox, lilies, Echinacea, Russian Sage, etc.

Yes - very nice. Actually, I am lucky enough not to have septic. How is everyone doing in the storm? I only have about 1 1/2 inches of snow but now it's a mix of snow and ice coming down.

We have sleet but more rain than sleet and very little snow is left. The grass is clearly visible.

Thanks for the info... as usual I just got hipinotized by teh beauty of the clemants (and the price tag too) and got something I have no idea how to care for... oh well this is typical.... but I will learn!!!!

I saw a huge pot at home depot and I like the idea.... thanks.... oh well, I guess is not so unusual to have a septic in the front... is just that I never had it before and every single one in my street is on the back of their houses... well I am the lucky one!

I just didn;t like the guy really digging the grass... and he never got everything back on the cover .... and every year I would have to pay $25.00 for the digging!!!! well with that money I can buy more plants!!!!

I have already gone outside to clean a fine but heavy snow... it's fine snow but there is already another inch on the ground.....

Don't despair Kassia! We were all new to it at one point. There is always somewhere else to plant them - through a shrub, up a trellis, covering a fence or scrambling on the ground. That's one of the things I love about Clematis - they are very versatile. Enjoy the storm!

Victor

Here's Will Goodwin in 'mid-unfurl'. Resembles a starfish.

Kassia, remember that roses and clematis go very well together. If you have any once blooming roses you can plant a late blooming clematis to scramble through it so the rose bush has color all season.

oh.... I have ordered 2 once bloomers... Variegata and La Belle Sultane... so which clemantis would be better to plant with them??? if it happens that I don't have the perfect match I may have to aquire it!!!!!lol....

Here is a pic of my first year The President.

Another shot.....

And here's my President.

Oh, I've missed so much here! Victor, thanks for posting the pic of Niobe. I really want one. Just haven't decided where to put it yet.

Kass, are you sure you don't want to get rid of that tree? you may be sorry later if you plant your roses around it and then want to get it out of there. think about it. last year you were definite about taking it out. what changed your mind?

Victor and pirl, what's the easiest pruning group to grow up a trellis with a climbing rose?

Gram - first you need to decide if you want them to bloom at the same time. If so, the rose bloom time will dictate the choice of clem. In general, group 2's bloom earlier (on old wood) and 3's later (new wood). Group 3's get pruned hard - almost all the way to the ground. It could be a bit of a challenge to pull out all the dead stems of a 3 from the rose - but it certainly can be done - carefully! You would not have to do that with 2's, which require a lighter pruning once established. However, as times goes on, the mass of wood from a group 2 can become substantial. Some people just prune it back hard every few years to clean it up. That would be done after flowering to minimize the loss of bloom next season. Some people just won't grow 2's because they don't want to stare at a mass of stems throughout the cold months. Hope this helps.

Victor, Could you remind me about group 1?

Hi Dave,

Group 1 are the monsters like the montana varieties. They don't require any pruning unless you just want to limit the size.

Thank you. I thought it was more complicated.

Kassia, I have Variegata on order also. Someone suggested Miss Bateman to go with VB, and guess what happened?? I have Miss Bateman on order. I now have almost as many clematis coming in as roses............can't wait to start digging!

Sounds like you're hooked venu!

thanks, Victor. It does help.

Any time.

Lovely pic pirl - almost looks identical to mine hehehe. I guess it would since it is the same plant...how old is that one you have???

Victor, I am soooo hooked!! LOL

It's funny how that works. I had some clematis for a number of years, but last year I got hooked, along with Japanese Maples. Just wish I had more space for the JM's!! What's special about clematis though is how many different ways they can be used. And they're great when you are really running out of space. Their 'footprint' is very small - except when you let them scramble.