clematis and other things

Hello everyone! gorgeous day here today in the Midlands and nice for tomorrow too!! Have just ordered some clematis to go in pots for my pergola. The pots I have in mind are about 18" or so square and are made of fibre glass and I plan to put some polysyrene in the base to act as drainage . Now I am thinking ahead here to the winter- will i need to protect them in the winter or wrap them up? I have also seen some pot stands with litttle wheels on and was thinking of putting my pots onto these. Has anyone any experience of these at all? thanks

 

I haven't protectected any of my clematis in winter and they are ok.. More important is protecting the roots from hot sun by putting pebbles, slate, stones, whatever you have round the roots on top of the soil.

I bought some little wooden stands with castors, a good idea but they weren't very strong and the wooden slats broke. There are some with solid wooden bases or cast iron, these would be stronger.

 

I recieved my very special QVC order today - three of Raymond Evison clematis, which indeed he exhibited at Chelsea. Crystal Fountain, Joesphine, and Franziska Maria. Having seen what they could look like - I can't wait to see the first signs that they have settled in their new home.

 

I received the same qvc offer and planted them in a 18" pot as recommended by dicky jackson he also said use a teraccotta pot as this helps to keep the roots cool in summer putting slates pebbles or stones on top as recommended by liz is a good idea, in winter it is worth putting bubble wrap round any pot outside to prevent root damage in severe weather it also protects the pot itself from flaking, there are some good pot stands around and they are well worth having saves the old back when moving pots around

 

Fran and walnut, you are lucky things! They were beautiful, but had sold out when I got home from work. :(

 

One of the reasons I stay up til 12 at night - one never knows whether the Today's Special Value - will be something I have just gotta have. :D

 

we are now into july and all my clematis are in bud looking forward for them flowering have all colours purple, pink ,mauve, dark reds and pale blue.
from rosa

 

All those on your balcony! You must let us have a photo, it sounds like a little Aladdins' cave of plants...
Fran, I like the new avatar.

 

Rosa - WOW!!!! Your balcony sounds like a true haven!!!!

I must admit I love clematis.... when I was a little girl, there were an elderly couple lived just down the raod, and they had a white clematis (I didn't know what it was back then) and every spring it would be a huge mass of white!!! - one of the things that got me interested in the garden!!

 

I have quite a lot on the balcony i have even started my neighbours off underneath me have been helping them put their arch up and twig expanding trellis over the balcony fronts and sides, they have been up and seen mine and jan said oh i want mine like yours, they have put their climbers in jasmine, clematis etc. watching them now grow.
Now we have been buying lights my hubby said it looks like blackpool illuminations between the both of us. taken photos need to get them developed.