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support for heavy clematis

17 years ago

My husband called the Jackmanni on the right "the Purple Monster" and so it is. It is so heavy that it collapses of its own weight.

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I have a small lattice on the post that it climbs on but it is slightly shaded and the plant reaches out for the sun.

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I would like to have it grow across the top of the support and reach toward Madame Julia Correvon who lives in the middle of the structure.

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That's Henryi on the left. Julia is only a two year old and, given her growth rate so far, would likely reach across to Jack is there was some support.

I could nail some lattice across the front of the swing support but that is kind of crude. I thought of mesh but it would be a real pain when trying to prune Jack back in the spring. I thought of wires but don't think that they would offer enough display space.

Any ideas?

Thanks for your help,

AM

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Comments (3)

buyorsell888
17 years ago
Lovely garden and garden structures you've got there.

I'd think the beam would be fine if some of the stems were tied to it the rest could cling to them.

I think if you want it to grow across I'd only prune part of it back hard and the remaining stems will start new growth from where they left off this year, this would encourage longer growth to get where you want it to go but the pruned back hard stems would still flower lower and cover the bare stems of the stems you left unpruned. However, if it all freezes off where you are in Canada this wouldn't work.

I just thought of this recently as I have some Clems that aren't getting tall enough to get to the top of my arbors just getting huge and bushy on the sides. The tops are bare and there is plenty of room there and not so much on the sides.

I don't know if it would work but I think it would. I've seen pics recently of Type 3's way up in trees that were not hard pruned low every year but only to where the branches started or not at all.
amcorrigan
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for the suggestion. I usually prune Jack back quite a bit but I could leave some longer stems next spring. They would have a head start and provide the base for the others to grow on. Although all the clematis look pretty dead over the winter, they usually have new growth along most stems in most winters.

I will try that, thanks,

AM
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"Stone walls a prison do not make".....but a 14 foot wall certainly takes on an appearance of one. I'm curious, what is that wall for....it doesn't appear that its part of a building.....what is its purpose and will the greenery add to its softening. Clematis are not fast growers....they take their time... the old adage might be considered before you decide to plant them. "First year, they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap" But they never leap far and they are not quick to produce foliage widespread. So putting threee plants on that wall is hardly something that will hide anything. You'd better do some research on the kind that grow upwards of 14'....some grow very well....but reach only 10 - 12'. There are other fast growing vines that might be considered invasive...the grow very fast and some even cling by themselves...no need for hooks or wire. The wall, is it continually in sun...or does it lose some and is then in deep shade. Clematis are sun lovers...the more the merrier and while there are varieties that can take some shade...they don't perform well in flowering or growth beyond 8'. Some vines are friends of pests....mostly aphids, which show up to dine on the tender new leaves. Mostly though, if you are planting a vine for its flowering....like other perennials, clematis have their seasons...they flower early, middle or late summer. Some re-flower later. Their pruning is part of their growth habit and during this time they are hardly wall coverings. A lot of things to consider how this prison wall hides the inmates.
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opheliathornvt zone 5
17 years ago
I agree, that is a beautiful garden. If I understand correctly, you want the Jackmanii to grow up the post and to the left across that beam. You could tie some stems to it as buyorsell suggests and other stems would follow across, or you could wrap the beam loosely in mesh, which would serve the same purpose. That is what I have done with the support beams under my deck to get my clemmies to grow up. So far it has worked well for me. My posts are light blue-gray and I found some gray mesh, so it is almost invisible unless you are right next to it, and of course, eventually the clemmies cover it totally.

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