CLEMATIS - QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

[Chuckles]

I've never pruned any of my group 2's like this before Jasmine mainly because the flowers seem to last longer than they have this time, and I forget ;D Wada's Primrose has had the pruners around her this morning and I'll just have to wait and see now ;D

[JennyWrenn]

I had clematis wilt on one of my climbers and thought I would lose it

I cut all the wilt off and it has come back with lots of buds

[Jasmine]

I've dug out Franziska Maria and Dancing Queen this morning, replaced the soil with lots of fresh and planted Elsa Spath and Westerplatte in their place. Franziska Maria was doing ok but it was too small for the obelisk it was on and Dancing Queen just didn't look right when it flowered.

[Chuckles]

I was amazed today to see how many of my Clems are shooting, this mild spell has really brought them on, they have never been this advanced before and I've done a bit of pre pruning/tidying up today as the wind is whipping them about. I've not done a full prune just incase we get a bad cold spell.

I've bumped up the Clematis info thread that has everything you need to know about them, different pruning groups, different types of clematis, pests and diseases, propagating from seed, layering and cuttings, feeding and growing in containers.

[Chuckles]

I'm hoping my clems are going to be ok this year, last year they didn't get a proper prune and some aren't showing signs of and growth yet. The ones that are showing some growth have been pruned and fed so for the others.

Has anyone any experience with this clem www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/clematis-heracleifolia/classid.2000018356/ I've been told its supposed to be highly scented and bush like rather than a climber

[Rosefriend]

Mar 6, 2013 17:10:22 GMT Chuckles said:

I'm hoping my clems are going to be ok this year, last year they didn't get a proper prune and some aren't showing signs of and growth yet. The ones that are showing some growth have been pruned and fed so for the others.

Has anyone any experience with this clem www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/clematis-heracleifolia/classid.2000018356/ I've been told its supposed to be highly scented and bush like rather than a climber

I've had one for years, think mine is 'Cote d'Azur' - love it - it needs to be staked or grow through something but lovely group of clems...wouldn't mind one in white as well...now on my list..

RF

[Jasmine]

I bought Wisley Cream at Wyevales yesterday - haven't had much luck with it in the past but I'm going to give it one more go.

[Chuckles]

Clematis Wisley Cream is one of the cirrhosa varietieys of clematis Jasmine I've had the Balearica, Freckles and Wisley Cream but never had any luck at all with any of them I lost my Wisley Cream but I've still got the Balearica and Freckles, they are very poor looking specimines though.  It was the idea of them being evergreen that drew me to them and the flowers are suppose to be scented. for you.

Yes Rosefriend the name 'Cote d'Azur' rings a bell, mine is the blue, I've got one in a large pot and have just put one in the ground so keeping my fingers crossed they do well for me.  Never knew there was a white...... Mmmmm maybe that should go on my list

[Jasmine]

Thanks Chuckles. I liked the idea of something for the bees in late winter or early spring but will have to see how we go. Clems are usually quite bombproof apart from the dreaded wilt...and they don't do well with border collies bouncing on them either!

[Chuckles]

Anyone any experience with Montana Broughton Star www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/clematis-broughton-star.html

Is it as vigorous as some say.

Its a group 1 prune code (no pruning) but I'm wondering if it can be kepted in check to about 12ft.

I've got one that I was given about 18 months ago and its in a large pot doing very little atm, its got 3 or 4 stems about 4ft long which are sprouting nicely atm

[Geranium]

Hi Chuckles.  Yes, I've had it for about 8 years. It isn't nearly as vigorous as the other montanas I've got, so I'm surprised to hear that. It's a beauty, and flowers a little later than the others. It sometimes has a few flowers still on it when my garden's open in early June.

[Chuckles]

Thanks for that Geranium I feel more confident in planting it now. I can cope with keeping it in check but was worried it may be as rampant as the more common Montanas, been there done that it got dug out   Broughton Star is a real beauty, I love the double flowers/semi double flowers and the different shades of pink.

Now I just need to find where to put it

[Geranium]

I know that feeling, Chuckles - would you like to borrow my magic shoe-horn?

[Chuckles]

Yes please Geranium a shoe horn and a crystal ball should be in every gardeners tool kit

One other thing you or anyone else who has one may be able to help me with is....on several sites it has been described as scented.

[Geranium]

I don't think it is,you'll have to wait and stick your nose in a flower!

[Chuckles]

Peter Beales and Taylors Clematis sites both say its scented but I've also read on the British Clematis Society forum that its not, seems you could be right Geranium. Never mind, its a lovely clem and scent would of been a bonus. Not planted it yet Thanks for your help.

[Chuckles]

May 23, 2011 16:47:15 GMT Chuckles said:

I've just been looking at my Wadas Primrose that has now finished flowering and had a vague recollection that group 2 clems could be pruned after flowering to encourage a 2nd flush of flowers later in the year. Found this useful bit on the Clematis thread in the pruning bit.

Mar 24, 2007 19:14:28 GMT Plocket said:

PRUNING
GROUP TWO - LIGHT PRUNE

This group consists of all the early large-flowered hybrids, including double and semi-double varieties. Their main flowering period is May to June, and after this time you can prune your clematis back by about a third to a half of the plant, or enough to keep the plant looking neat and tidy. Start to feed the plant with a high potash fertilizer and this will encourage new growth and more flowers in the autumn. In February/March you can tidy by cutting out dead or weak stems – these are easy to recognise because there should be some good new growth by this time, and you can remove stems beyond the last leaf-bud.

I'll be putting that on my list of jobs over the next few days

Don't forget you can prune Groups 2's, as described above.

I did my Wadas Primrose yesterday.  All my clems are way behind by at least 4 weeks.

Crystal Fountain and Niobe are in full bloom and my Nellie is just opening, Josephine has only 2 flowers and some of the others aren't even in bud yet and others are.

[TeeGee]

This is a "Ground cover' variety I purchased last year, it is called;

Flora filigree

[Tig]

I've got that one TeeGee - it's petals have been nibbled by the s & s brigade though because it's low to the ground!

[Geranium]

HELP!  My Clem 'Semu' is developing yellowing leaves from the bottom up...what can I do about it?



Healthy ones at the top.  (By the way, I fed it with b, f and b about 2 weeks ago).



I read somewhere that Epsom salts are good for this - where can I get some, please?

[Tig]

Boots sell it Geranium

www.boots.com/en/Boots-Epsom-Salts-B-P--200g_1209183/

If the leaves at the top are OK it could just be the lower leaves naturally dying off

[Chuckles]

That marbled appearance is typical of magnesium deficiency Geranium so epsom salts is worth a try. Could also be lack of water maybe, this hot weather is catching us all out, also has the top/roots got shade.

[TeeGee]

Have a read of this 'Geranum' before you go throwing chemicals at plants without really knowing the cause of the problem.

Magnesium Deficiency

If after reading it you still think it is MD then by all means treat the plant, there are mixing / application figures in this article!

[Geranium]

Thanks, and it does seem to be a symptom of magnesium deficiency. It's not easy to get to the Boots in Bridgwater - I read up about plant food containing magnesium to use and there are several available, so I shall use it as a good excuse to go to the GC... Fingers crossed for my 'Semu'.

[Ladygardener]

Aug 7, 2013 7:43:24 GMT Chuckles said:

Aug 7, 2013 7:09:19 GMT Ladygardener said:

I'd love mine to do the same but they only seem to bloom at the top.

It could be down to pruning @ladygardener have a look here   gardenworld.proboards.com/thread/4773/clematis

Thanks for the link, I remember reading it at one stage before.
My clems are all group 2. The ones in the middle bed had to be cut to the ground last year as the oblisk they were on broke. They have come back very strong but I've only got a couple of flower buds. Should I prune them now as suggested as they have completly covered the wooden stakes I've put in to support them?

At the bottom of the garden, I have more group 2, Josephine or / Crystal Fountain and Empress. They did'nt get cut back much, only enough to tidy them up but I've only had a couple of flowers on them too. Should I cut them back to tidy them up now?

[Chuckles]

The photo of Blue Angel that Jasmine posted on the Gallery thread is a group 3 @ladygardener and they are hard pruned as in pruned to the ground.

I guess its possible that pruning a group 2 like a group 3 has meant it has maybe put all its growth into foliage and not flowers this year I'd follow the group 2 pruning guide and hopefully you should get flowers next year, you may even be lucky and get a few this year, good luck

[Ladygardener]

Thanks Chuckles.

[Chuckles]

Jasmine hope this answers your question about how Wada's Primrose looks.  Can't believe I've had mine 6 years now and in a pot, maybe its time I got it a bigger pot

This was my first ever flower on Wada's Primrose back in Apr 2007 and it has that lovely greenish line down the petals



This was Apr 2011 when more were open and its sort of an off white and the greenish lines go a cream colour

[Jasmine]

Ohh, thanks for posting pics of Wada's Primrose Chuckles!
Yours looks very happy in its pot!
What group is it in do you know?

[Chuckles]

Its a group 2 Jasmine and if you look back a few posts to the 27/6 I reposted Plockets details on pruning group 2's to hopefully get a second flush of flowers. Its a lovely clem, hope it does well for you