Predominently Clematis garden project!

Hi,

I've spent the best part of 2 weeks now sorting a once beautiful garden turned overgrown mess out for my mum and step-dad, given neither of them are even remotely green-fingered and my little brother being autistic (he's 10, I'm 26) I'd take the job on and give them a 'chill' space and ideally my little brother a year round sensory space.

What I'm currently working with is a medium sized space, around 15m2 which is surrounded by conifers which the step-dad learned the hard way don't grow back once cut beneath green foliage - Leaving a mess of brown branches all year around. To make this a bit worse, we live in a cul de sac where the conifers are the 'wall' leading into the cul de sac.
This is the platform for the clematis, I've installed a small mesh at the base of the plants secured to the conifers providing a support for climbing.

As of right now, my selections have been -
Armandii
Armandii apple blossom
Clematis Taiga
Clematis Montana Mayleen
Starjasmine
Morning glory heavenly blue.

These have been stratigically placed based on soil typings, with the Armandii, apple blossoms and Taiga placed in a more sandy/stony area to assist with drainage which has proven a nightmare with the unaticipated weeks of 24+ weather. Learned just why these plants usually grow best in spring times, lots and lots of water.

My idea is to have 1 row of climbers infront of the connifers on the 'inside' of our garden, creating a floral coverage throughout the majority of the year for the 'sensory garden' vision for my brother and a further layer of climbers on the outerside creating a wall of flowers and foliage covering the now dead conifer branches leading into the cul de sac.

What I'm looking for here and what I'd appreciate very much, is if I could sponge some of the wisdom from more experienced growers on here? I didn't even know what a clematis was until 2 months ago, although given extensive reading and research I've built on this platform... But as we all know, everything sounds good in theory.

I'm aware 'topping' plants would usually stimulate two new node sites to shoot, would this apply to clematis? If so, would it be wise to do this within first year of growth due to stress levels while establishing root system?

With the amount of space I have to cover, I picked vigorous growers with the combination of evergreens for foliage covering so my goal is utlimately to get a blanket covering both sides in the shortest timeframe possible and I'd really appreciate any guidance possible!

Thanks in advance,
Adam.

 

Hello Adam, well done so far! Don't worry about pinching out the tips on armandii and montana clematis, or the star jasmine. As long as they get regular water through the growing season, and the occasional feed of balanced fertiliser (NPK values fairly even), they'll romp away. The 'Taiga' clematis will need pruning down to new double buds in Feb or March, doing away with all the dead growth above them. Pinching out the growing tips of the morning glories is optional. It will make them bush out, but might delay flowering.

 

Thanks for the reply! I'll leave the topping then and continue with watering.

I've even built them an irrigation system so they don't have to worry about watering, so they should be fine! I've been tuning this with the weather, having it off on wetter weeks and on during hotter ones.

I have to say, this does get quite addictive. I've been home working and I'm now finding myself walking into the garden to check on my latest growth and see if anything requires additional support haha!

 

That's just the start! You wait until you stop going on holiday in summer because you might miss something.....