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Top heavy clematis

cazsophieq2019cazsophieq2019 Posts: 193
in Problem solving
Hi all

The photos are of my top heavy clematis it bloomed a few white flowers about a month ago but now it all lush looking green leaves. The trellis behind it is a tall triangular one and it looks like it's outgrown it. 

A lot of the stems have become intertwined and when I try to unravel them.. Well it's impossible and I'm afraid of breaking them and damaging the plant. 

Has anyone any advice on how I can do this or should I leave it? 

Thanks in advance for your help 🙂
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Posts

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    A classic case of wrong size clematis for your spot. Do you know which one you have.
    All clematis .can be treated as a group 3 and cut down in spring to almost ground level but you can cut off the top above the fence now, I had to trim back mine as I too have a rampant clematis in the wrong spot.
    Get some horizontal wires up and train it sideways rather than up.



  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I agree.  You'd need a very small clematis to contain it to that trellis and if that one's a montana it's going to want to grow metres and metres and metres long and wide - http://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=22 

    Cut every stem back to about 3 or 4' (90 to 12cms) high and then either stretch taut wires across the fence using vine eyes and tensioners at 30cm intervals from base to top or install 2 or 3 proper 2m high and wide trellis panels attached to battens on the fence so there is air circulation and a chance to twine the stems.

    Then give the roots a good deep drink of water - at least 10 litres poured slowly so it soaks in.  Some liquid tomato feed added will help the plant regrow.   You should be able to untangle the remaining stems and spread them in a fan as horizontally and diagonally as possible to cover the new support.  Keep an eye on new growth and train that in too.  It won't need tying but will need showing the way so you can control the direction.

    Make sure it doesn't get thirsty between now and autumn and next spring, give it a generous dollop of slow release clematis, rose or tomato feed and thru spring to end of July but not later.   If it is a montana it will flower on old stems and can then be tidied up to keep it in bounds and should only be cut to the ground if it's old and needs renovation.
    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)."
    Plato
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    Oh I wish I was in Carrickfergus. One of my favourite Irish ballads.
    Anyway, as others have said your clematis is way too close to that fence. Could you possibly re-site it one or 2 feet away from it?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I wouldn't move it. It's clearly perfectly happy. I expect you get plenty of wet weather which is all they need. I have plenty of very happy clems against fences, and they're just as near as that one is. 
    Just follow @Obelixx's advice re cutting back and getting wires on the fence to guide new growth onto, or big sections of trellis if the budget allows.

    You could probably relocate that trellis. If it's a montana, and it certainly looks like it, then you'll never really see the trellis anyway once the clem matures. 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If that fence is not yours you need to have a word with your neighbours about attaching trellis and/or vine eyes and wires.  A montana in full stride will become quite a heavy beast but glorious.  If they're not happy, just erect some posts inside it and attach trellis or wires to those.
    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)."
    Plato
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I would prune the montana regularly - keep on top of it and be careful if your garden is windy. It can bring a fence down quite easily.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Not if it's well trained and spread across the fence instead of shooting for the skies.
    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)."
    Plato
  • cazsophieq2019cazsophieq2019 Posts: 193
    Hi everyone thanks for all your feedback.  Sorry only getting back to now, it's been a busy few days helping my folks moving house.  


  • cazsophieq2019cazsophieq2019 Posts: 193
    K67 said:
    A classic case of wrong size clematis for your spot. Do you know which one you have.
    All clematis .can be treated as a group 3 and cut down in spring to almost ground level but you can cut off the top above the fence now, I had to trim back mine as I too have a rampant clematis in the wrong spot.
    Get some horizontal wires up and train it sideways rather than up.



    @K67
    Unfortunately I don't know which group this clematis comes from as my dad planted it for me two years ago when I first moved into the house.  All I can can say is that it has white blooms a few of which were blooming circa end of April, May ish?

    When you say I can cut the top bit above the fence ... do I just get the garden shears out and give it a flat top ?

    Will I get the wires in now?

    Thanks :-)
  • cazsophieq2019cazsophieq2019 Posts: 193
    edited July 2020
    Obelixx said:
    I agree.  You'd need a very small clematis to contain it to that trellis and if that one's a montana it's going to want to grow metres and metres and metres long and wide - http://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=22 

    Cut every stem back to about 3 or 4' (90 to 12cms) high and then either stretch taut wires across the fence using vine eyes and tensioners at 30cm intervals from base to top or install 2 or 3 proper 2m high and wide trellis panels attached to battens on the fence so there is air circulation and a chance to twine the stems.

    Then give the roots a good deep drink of water - at least 10 litres poured slowly so it soaks in.  Some liquid tomato feed added will help the plant regrow.   You should be able to untangle the remaining stems and spread them in a fan as horizontally and diagonally as possible to cover the new support.  Keep an eye on new growth and train that in too.  It won't need tying but will need showing the way so you can control the direction.

    Make sure it doesn't get thirsty between now and autumn and next spring, give it a generous dollop of slow release clematis, rose or tomato feed and thru spring to end of July but not later.   If it is a montana it will flower on old stems and can then be tidied up to keep it in bounds and should only be cut to the ground if it's old and needs renovation.
    @Obelixx
    Thanks so much for all of your advice, very helpful looking at the link that you provided seems to confirm that my clematis is a montana - good to know.  

    When you advise cutting every stem back should I be doing this now as oppose to just cutting back above the fence?  And then progress to feeding etc?   Or are you referring to from spring forwards next year?

    Thanks :-)
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