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Help Me! Clematis driving me nuts!

17 years ago

I'm about ready to give up. Everyone has one plant or so that everyone else grows successfully but you just can't, right? Well, clematis is mine. (Fuschia too, but that's a different story.)

I really tried. I got two wonderful clematis from nurseries this summer. I planted one in absolute full, unrelenting Virginia summer sun. I was sure to plant deeply and mulch well, so to keep the roots cool. I even put a rock over the ground, to try to give it some respite from heat. The other one also gets sun, but is a little more part shade. I had little choice as my neighbor's beech tree is shading part of my yard that used to be full sun. I'd love to knock that tree down.

Despite my love and care, the plants are not growing well. In fact, they almost look like they're drying....except I water often and this is Virginia which means we get quite a lot of summer drenching thunderstorms almost daily. It's been so damp this summer my grass is growing mushrooms.

Please, any help you can give me, please do.

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Comments (7)

jeanne_texas
17 years ago
BabyWatson..you didn't say which ones you have...I am assuming they are pruning group 2s which can be finicky and slow to get started..Might I suggest you try the Viticellas..the pruning group 3s..sounds like you are doing everything right..but I find that all these sites that say full sun can be misleading..especially for warmer zones like myself..they can grow just beautifully in 6 hours of sun and therefore my best ones get the morning sun and shaded from the hot evening sun..those I have in more intense sun need watering more...they can also just disappear...wilt?..and then pop back up with more vigor..it's all about their root system..if it does wilt..just prune back to the ground..but don't forget to keep watering if nothing is there...Jeanne
ps..I can't grow Fuschia either..too hot here...trust me I have killed about 3 trying to grow them...I either overwater or something....
babywatson
Original Author
17 years ago
Jeanne, I have no idea what kind they are. One was sort of pale pink with darker pink stripes and the other a very dark magenta. As for pruning groups, I had no idea they even had types! ?What are they?

So even if it looks bad now, it might still come back okay next year?
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katie
17 years ago
Another thing... you said you purchased the clematis this summer and planted one in the full Virginia sun. Quite frankly I never plant clematis once the weather gets too warm. For me this is any time from mid June to July 1st and on for the rest of the summer. I resume planting sometime in September depending on when the temp finally starts to come down. You are only one zone removed from me so maybe it's just been too hot there.

Katie
gardenscout
17 years ago
I don't know much about Clematis, but a rock will definitely heat the soil, not cool it.

It's an old gardening trick to warm the soil in the Spring.
jeanne_texas
17 years ago
Katie is correct...planting when it's too hot is stressful for any plant to try and get established and one must stay ontop of watering daily!!..Your pink with the darker pink bars could be a number of different clematis...If you post a pic we can try and id it for you...yes..there are 4 pruning groups to clematis...so knowing the name helps but you can't kill a clematis by pruning...if you stay ontop of watering like I told you it will most probaby come back...Jeanne
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
17 years ago
It's a bit of an old wive's tale that clematis need shaded or cool roots. What they need is even moisture in the root zone, which shading generally accomplishes, as it reduces evaporation. And even rocks or slabs of flagstone can provide this service. FWIW, clematis in my nursery in 1 or 2 gallon cans get unrelenting sun and baking heat in summer and do fine as long as they get daily or sometimes twice daily watering and are not allowed to dry out.

I'd agree that summer planting in most areas of the country is the least advisible time, as establishment is more compromised by heat and dryness and a much greater likelihood of transplant shock. In milder areas, fall is ideal - in colder zones, I'd wait until spring. Cut 'em back, keep them well watered but not soaked and they should be fine next spring.
babywatson
Original Author
17 years ago
I'm not sure I planted that in summer, exactly. It was May. Late spring? I wanted to try to establish them early. I would never plant something in July Or August.
I've heard fall is a good time to plant perennials.

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