Help with clematis

Hi all,
Am v novice gardener and am having difficulties with my clematis. Have a south facing garden and have planted clematis in ground next to fence to grow up trelis. Unfortunately, it seems to have died off. There does seem to be one new green shoot, halfway up the stem. Can someone advise me if this is normal please? I have 3 more young plants (7-8cm)I am growing on to be planted out in 5 weeks. Would hate to for them to die too!! Help!!

 

Hi and welcome!
I have a new one which died right back during the hot weather before I planted it out. I really thought it was dead but like yours it has new growth started.
Although clematis are tough when in the right conditions they don't thrive if their roots aren't protected from heat, although the plant above ground likes sun. Try putting pebbles, paving etc round it's roots and keep your fingers crossed!

 

Hi cuckoobuns - I have just planted 3 new clematis in quite a shady area and the adviCE I was given from the clematis nursery was to cut them back to the second leafbud after planting and as Liz says, shield their roots from the sun. I planted them about 2 weeks ago and they are bushing out nicely. Mind you, I have been watering them every day

 

There's a couple of important things to remember when planting clematis

1. Plant them deep, i.e. bury the first leaf

2. Ensure that the base of the plant is in the shade, clematis like a cool root run.

Yours should come back, keep them fed, and watered if dry - and don't give up on them til at least next summer.

 

And not even then, they can sulk for 2 years!. They really do need a lot of water until their roots are established. It is reckoned you need to water for about 2 years after planting and I mean a really good soaking not jut a sprinkle.

 

I've gone Clematis crazy in my garden and have 1 in the front and 4 in the back. One I've had for over a year now and its come on a treat. I have it growing over a large tree stump, does anyone have any tips for pruning an established one ?

Thanks.

 

Thanx all 4 advice. Will follow same. xx

 

If 5 is crazy what does over 100 make us?

 

Platti - pruning clematis depends a lot on its type. When does the one you want to prune, flower?

 

Can anyone advise me on a good fast growing clematis to train up a fence, there is sun until late morning and then partly shaded.

 

Fastest growing also means most rampant, but any of the C. montana types would grow there. BUT they do get to over 30 feet high if allowed to.

 

I agree with clematis expert PALUSTRIS. C. MONTANA TYPES GROW the fastest. some are white and some are pale pink.ever green too.

 

Armandii is also quite a rampant grower, too. There are perfumed varieties of both montana and armandii.

 

I agree Liz, and amandii would be better for being evergreen perhaps?

 

And then there is C. rehderiana
http://www.ratherpinkclematis.co.uk/product.php?id=15

and C. flammula
http://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/shop_product_info.php/ST/flammula/IIS/6/IID/41

Although these late flowering types are not as rampant as the montana group they may still be worth considering?

Kind regards
Roy