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Clematis cirrhosa Freckles - problem

kay.comley362kay.comley362 Posts: 14
edited August 2020 in Problem solving
Hello,
I would be very grateful for any ideas as to how to revive a new clematis I bought and planted last autumn.
it is planted in a sheltered south facing corner by a fence and the roots are shaded with broken pots and a stone.  The new leaves Turn yellow from the tips and gradually shrivel and go brown. New stems shrivel too and it looks so unhealthy! I have fed it with seaweed and Vitax Growmore - recently added Vitax  Q4 Pellets to the top of the soil and forked in & watered.
There have been small droopy flowers recently (not when it is supposed to flower from November).  I have trimmed off the dead leaves and stems but still no vigorous growth or recovery.
I thought it would have taken off by now and I really don’t know what else to try - please help!

Thank you

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2020
    Water, water and more water.  Mine’s in the shade and needs gallons at this time of year. 
    In general it’s not a good idea to feed a poorly plant ... get it growing first ... it’s like giving an invalid a huge rich meal. 
    Clematis need a lot of moisture. Take the stone and broken pots off ... the reason people say they need shade is to keep the roots damp ... but it’s far better to give lots and lots of water and an organic mulch to keep the moisture from evaporating. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • kay.comley362kay.comley362 Posts: 14
    Hi Dovefromabove,

    Thank you for your advice - I think I have kept it watered and there is even a guttering off the conservatory which has a downpipe into a soak away on the border where it is planted! Will keep an eye on this though. However, I take your point about feeding and I shall leave off doing that now. Will take off stone and pots as the Japanese anemone planted next to it shades the base with its large leaves.
    Fingers crossed it picks up and thank you! 

  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 7,066
    I grow loads of clems but freckles never did well for me.  I ended up removing it and planting a different one.  Hope you manage to get yours going @kay.comley362
    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Fingers crossed it picks up for you.  Ours covers our bin store in the front garden ... it's right by our sitting room window ... I can see it from here and I often watch a wren and lots of goldfinches, bluetits and sparrows collecting the seedheads for nesting material and insects and aphids for nestlings ... so as well as the flowers it has interest all year round. 
    I've got a seeper hose on that border at the moment ... it'll be on for three hours today to get the soil nice and moist in preparation for the heatwave tomorrow.

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • kay.comley362kay.comley362 Posts: 14
    Thank you Yviestevie, I hope it doesn’t give up on me!

    Dovefromabove - thank you and I shall be patient, water well and wait ..... I so want it to do well and for the wild birds too! Yes it’s forecast hot, hot, hot for the next several days so good idea with the seeper 😉 
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