Hello everyone!
I bought 2 clematis on clearance last fall and just let it sit in my shed. I forgot to cut them as I was told to. (sorry). Yesterday when I went to check it out, I saw lots of leaves and buds (if they are indeed buds) from the old stems (i don't know if this is how it's called -hehe). So what do I do now? Do I put them ouside? Water them? Hmmm, help me please!
Aelana
What do I do with my clematis?
Aelana...do you plan on continue growing them in pots?..What are the names of the ones you bought?...Sounds like they are leafing out at the leaf axil...yeaaaa.....Jeanne
Isn't it amazing how they can thrive while being stashed away? I bet you'll have flowers this year.
Hi Jeanne,
They were Niobe and Earnest Markham. I really haven't decided yet. Is there an advantage of just leaving it in the pot? Also, should I be putting them outside and water them?
Aelana
Aleana..they do better planted in the garden...they are both pruning group 2's and yes they need water..Clematis like their roots to stay moist..not standing in water by no means with good drainage..just moist..I would plant them outside..they can withstand your winters like a champ!! Hard prune them to about the 3rd leaf axil from the soil..(Next year you can treat them like a pruning group 2) when you plant them ..plant them about 2-3 inches deeper than the pot they are in and at a slight angle towards what you want them to climb on...feed rose food or tomato fertilizer..as long as the 2nd number is higher than the other two...Jeanne
Listen to JeanneTX, Aleana. She knows her clematis!
Yes Pirl, I'm all ears to Jeanne and I sure do hope you're right about flowers.
I have more questions Jeanne:
- when is the best time to plant them? Can I do that now?
- what do you mean by: Hard prune them to about the 3rd leaf axil from the soil. What is a leaf axil? I tried to look for an illustration/drawing on the net but couldn't find one. Can you explain it a little bit more? Thank you :)
- When is the best time to fertilize clematis?
Aelana
While we're looking forward to Jeanne I can tell you what I'd do:
Plant them with lots of compost and the way Jeanne already described above. Yes, now is a good time to plant them for you.
Here's a photo of my pruned Niobe. The axil is the point where the leaves emerge from the stem.
I use a thick covering of manure, which acts as a mulch and helps to keep the soil cool. Others use a handful of lime or 5-10-5, then apply the manure.
I'm looking forward to seeing how Jeanne treats hers in Texas.
Aelana..Is your Zone 8?...if so you can plant them now..if you look at this page of my site: http://www.thegardengalleries.org/v/Jeanne/Clematis/Hard+Pruning.jpg.html
You'll see "hard pruning" that I did on my Clematis "Venosa Violacea"..the "Y" is the leaf axil and you can see the leaf buds forming..so count the 3rd "Y" from the soil and prune about an inch above that!!
I don't do the thick covering of Manure...I just top dress ALL my garden with Composted cowmanure and then my mulch...so from years of doing this I am always have the mulch and manure breaking down and feeding the micro-organism in my soil and feeding my clematis with my fertilizer....fertilize the same time you feed your roses or when the Forsythias in bloom is best time to PRUNE and FERTILIZE no matter what zone you are in..hope this helps..Jeanne
Thanks, Jeanne. We all benefit from your advice.
Of course, I forgot the photo with my post!
Isn't it true that fertilizer only begins to work when the temperature is around 50 or more? So I put it down when I'm working on each clematis and just let the weather get it to work. The manure I referred to is composted manure but I put additional compost (our own) on top of that.
Hey Jeanne i love your gallery Web site! You sure do have them everywhere just like ALL of us who love em!
And Pirl please tell me that picture is from last year!! Do you have weather that nice already??
Oh did you tell me you were in zone 6? Wow in New York!! I always think of Buffalo weather as i have relatives there. Well it's nice to see those BUDS!!
Julie
Relax, the photo is from last year - 4/18 to be exact. Out here, at the eastern tip of Long Island we're in zone 7.
WHEW!!! Pirl Girl!
Julie
Thanks Julie...and Odd enough..I continue "Squeezing" in clematis here and there..LOL..Jeanne
Julie - I've already cut back about two dozen clematis on the seven or eight nice winter days when I did get outside but no leaves appear this soon.
Wow You all are killing me...Heres my deck i walk onto to view my yard.. IT'S ALL under a foot of snow!!
julie
It really does look so pretty but by now you must be getting weary of pretty and you're yearning for green.
YOU BET YOUR CLEM-----ATIS!
Julie
Hey! Spray paint the snow! (Not white)
Sorry it took me this long to respond. I have pruned the plants and I hope they'll do well this year. Thank you very, very much for the help.
Jeanne, I love your gallery! And Pirl, thanks for the picture :)
Aelana
Well Done Aelana...and look forward to seeing pics this year of your lovely clematis!!..Jeanne
Glad to hear it. We'll be there with you cheering as they grow and bloom.