Should work with no issues Lynn. I would use bird netting or even vinyl coated wire fencing to cover the tank to allow the clematis to cling to.

As for one vs. two, how big is the tank? Will it eventually be removed or will it remain a permanent fixture? Do you want something that you will have to prune back each year or something that will essentially be prune free after getting established?

No clematis of any size will bloom all or most of the summer however. You could get repeat blooms by pruning back after the main flush, but then that would defeat the purpose of having the tank covered.

I have a Josephine clematis to cover my gas pipe and meter. But I have to keep the meter part visible for the meter reader. I usually try to twist the vine around the pipe. I normally don't prune this clematis since it blooms on old wood, but last year we cut it down to the ground and it came back fine.

Buford, all clematis, even type IIs, will benefit from being cut back. It helps to promote more vigorous growth from the base. I have come to the conclusion that all my type II clematis are going to be cut back as type IIs each spring.

I've used the vinyl fencing around poles - it works great! You may want to staple-gun some small wood blocks to the fencing that would then rest on the tank in order provide a little bit of a gap between the wire and the tank - making it easier for the vine to grab hold of the wire.

OR if your gas co. doesn't want you putting anything right on the tank, you could use that same vinyl fencing and build a small fence-line in front of the tank to grow the vines on, which is also a good alternative if you think the tanks will be going away in a few years. That way you won't have to rip up your vines when the tank is removed.

It might be a good idea to plant the clems in the biggest pots you can find before putting them in the ground.

I can just imagine the removal crew dragging the tank through a full and nicely bushy flowering clem. If they give you notice of when they are coming, you can dig out the pots and move them out of the way. With less disturbance of the roots. And you may want to situate them someplace else once the eyesore is gone.

Marie

nck, yes, but I can tell you my husband didn't benefit from the tongue lashing I gave him after he cut back 'that vine' while I was away. Luckily he didn't dig up the roots.

Well, despite the fact that gas lines have been run down our road, we are on a flag lot (3 houses down a common drive) and my understanding is that they have no intentions of running it down to us anytime soon ....actually last I heard was something like 7 years. A drawback to country-ish living. Anyhow, my husband bought 2 purple (?night owl or something like that) climbing roses to go over the tank. We bought a sweet autumn clematis to cover the ground in front of and around the side of the tank. I was thinking of growing a clematis with the rose but pruning sounds like a nightmare if they didn't share the exact same needs and to be honest I have no idea how to take care of these roses we just bought. I do think in 3 years we will have the prettiest propane tank in town!! I actually have no idea if I'm allowed to plant on it...I'll make sure to keep the valves and pipes free of plant. I'm sure they'll let me know if I can't. Thanks for the advice! Lyn

Buford, think of what your husband did as something that will benefit your clematis!