I have just bought 3 clematis to climb up my new Laura Ashley obelisk. Has anyone any tips on the best way to plant? It says to soak in a bucket for 10 mins.
Three for one obelisk is also a bit ambitious. Unless it's a mahoosive obelisk! The size and maturity of the plants will be a factor too. What size of pots are they currently in? If they're young, small plants, it's best to grow them on [ie plant into bigger pots for a while] to let them build up a good root system before planting out in their final spot. They'll cope with all the pests and problems more easily if they're a good size
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When you do pot on or plant out you need to plant them deeper than they were in their pot. This encourages good root development as well as the production of extra shoots and thus more flowers. Clematis are hungry, thirsty plants so you need good soil preparation and should not be allowed to go thirsty.
You need to know how big each clematis will eventually get before you swamp an obelisk with 3 of them and if they have different pruning regimes you should definitely not mix them so yes please, tell us what you have?
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
How big is the obelisk and where will you be putting it? Sun or semi shade or shade?
If you do plant all three together on one obelisk you can always treat Multi Blue as a group 3 for pruning which will make life much easier. Group 3s get pruned back hard in March and then a good feed and water and they'll flower all summer on new growth.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
It’s not huge, would you stick to a couple of the clematis and put one somewhere else? Also I have the honeysuckle plant in the pot in the corner. What would be best to do with it? I can’t see any buds. Thanks
Lovely picture, Natalie, of a tidy plot. Good that you ask questions. You have 3 very good tried and tested varieties of clematis, all of them are too big for your obelisk, in my opinion. I would suggest putting wires or netting on your fence and growing them on there, your obelisk would be ideal for one of the border herbaceous clematis that grow to 4 or 5 ft. tall. Good luck with your plants.
I agree. That is a very smart but teeny obelisk. I'd be tempted to string some outdoor fairy lights on it and make it a feature rather than hide it away under plants.
However, you seem to have a lot of bare fence just asking to have some vine eyes screwed in and used to stretch support wires across to hold your clems. Vine eyes are screws with a loop on the end and are available in DIY shops. They are cheap and strong and allow air to circulate around stems. Any green fencing wire or strong galvanised wire will do as long as it's stretched tight. Place the eyes in horizontal rows about 30 cms apart going up the fence then lead your clematis shoots onto them.
Plant each clematis in a deep hole enriched with well-rotted manure and/or garden compost and some slow release feed. Water the plants well then plant them 3 or 4 inches deeper than they were before filling in the hole and watering again. Remove any support canes and ties and gently wind the stems onto the lower wires. Keep watered until they're established and growing well. Tie in new shoots as they appear.
If you plant each clematis 2m apart from the next they'll have space to spread but also mingle and you can underplant with perennials or annuals to extend the season of interest and colour range.
Cut all 3 back to ground level, or the lowest pair of buds, every spring and feed generously and you'll get fresh new growth and more and more stems with more and more flowers as the plants settle in. Water in dry spells. They don't like to go thirsty.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Unless it's a mahoosive obelisk!
The size and maturity of the plants will be a factor too. What size of pots are they currently in? If they're young, small plants, it's best to grow them on [ie plant into bigger pots for a while] to let them build up a good root system before planting out in their final spot. They'll cope with all the pests and problems more easily if they're a good size
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You need to know how big each clematis will eventually get before you swamp an obelisk with 3 of them and if they have different pruning regimes you should definitely not mix them so yes please, tell us what you have?
- http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=23
Pink Fantasy, group 3 for pruning, 2 to 2.5m, any aspect
- http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=375
Hagley Hybrid, group 3, 2 to 3m, semi shade
- http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=196
How big is the obelisk and where will you be putting it? Sun or semi shade or shade?
If you do plant all three together on one obelisk you can always treat Multi Blue as a group 3 for pruning which will make life much easier. Group 3s get pruned back hard in March and then a good feed and water and they'll flower all summer on new growth.
However, you seem to have a lot of bare fence just asking to have some vine eyes screwed in and used to stretch support wires across to hold your clems. Vine eyes are screws with a loop on the end and are available in DIY shops. They are cheap and strong and allow air to circulate around stems. Any green fencing wire or strong galvanised wire will do as long as it's stretched tight. Place the eyes in horizontal rows about 30 cms apart going up the fence then lead your clematis shoots onto them.
Plant each clematis in a deep hole enriched with well-rotted manure and/or garden compost and some slow release feed. Water the plants well then plant them 3 or 4 inches deeper than they were before filling in the hole and watering again. Remove any support canes and ties and gently wind the stems onto the lower wires. Keep watered until they're established and growing well. Tie in new shoots as they appear.
If you plant each clematis 2m apart from the next they'll have space to spread but also mingle and you can underplant with perennials or annuals to extend the season of interest and colour range.
Cut all 3 back to ground level, or the lowest pair of buds, every spring and feed generously and you'll get fresh new growth and more and more stems with more and more flowers as the plants settle in. Water in dry spells. They don't like to go thirsty.