Clematis

Ho Ho Ho!!!
I got my birthday (June 23rd) gift from Mom a bit early this year.
She ordered me 3 clematis from QVC.

Never having grown these, I did a bit of research and here is what I found.

My 3 varieties

Innocent Glance

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Duchess of Edinburgh

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Beauty of Worcester

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It looks like they all have the same characteristics:

• Early to midseason flowering cultivars and rebloomers
• Height 6 - 8ft (2 - 2.5m)
• Flowering Time May, June and September
• Bloom size & type: 5-6"
• Bloom type: double May, June
  Single September
• Optional Pruning

  • Cut back about halfway after the first flowers have finished late June to July, then simply 'tidy up' by cutting out dead or weak stems in February/March the remaining stems should be cut to a strong pair of buds, a variation in the length of these stems should result in flowers being more evenly spread up and down the length of the plant.

Planting

Plant 3" deeper than it was in the original pot.

• Bury the first set of leaves.

Location

• Full sun. At least 6 hours / day.

Supports

Start your support from about 6 - 12 inches above ground level.
You can let a clematis grow up through a shrub.

Mulching

Mulching helps keep the roots cool and conserves moisture.
Keep mulch several inches away from the crown.

Fertilizing

• Early spring = shovelful of compost and handful of fertilizer.
• Feed additional 2 times with water-soluble fertilizer.

Watering

First year = weekly.

Pruning

Spring blooming varieties

• ASAP after flowering but before July.

Mid-spring varieties

• cut back to the topmost buds in late winter / early spring

Late-blooming varieties

• Prune back 2-3 feet in late winter / early spring

Random notes:

Clematis live up to 50 years or more.
You can plant these in containers.
Slugs can be a problem.
Can be divided, but it takes great care.
Powdery mildew can be a problem. Prune an affected areas.

So here's what I ended up with:

I decided to put them around the utility pole out front, so we can see them from the dining room and living room.

• Being a lineman, I usually don't recommend planting around a pole, but this is a brand new pole, so shouldn't have to be replaced for 20-30 years...
  

I planted

• The 3 clematis. 1 for each fence gate.
• Crackerjack marigolds up around the pole. (seeds)
• Petite Yellow & French Dwarf Double Mixed Colors to complete the circle. (seeds)
• 12 Sedum Autumn Joy to provide shade for the clematis roots...

Sources I used for research

https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/grow-clematis/8203.html
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/clematis/growing-clematis.htm
https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/how-to-grow-clematis
https://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/how-to-grow-clematis-vines
https://www.brushwoodnursery.com/pages/how-to-grow-clematis
https://www.americanmeadows.com/perennials/clematis-vines/how-to-grow-clematis
https://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/landscaping-and-hardscaping/how-to-cultivate-clematis

Who I am @WizarDave	The KEY to Life!