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Clematis drooping in full sun

David.lifedrawingDavid.lifedrawing Posts: 27
in Problem solving
Hi, the clematis 'lemon beauty' plants I plants a couple of months back are drooping badly in full sun. I've given them plenty of water during the heat, and they mostly perk up again in the cooler evening, but during the day some are withering away in the sun and seem to be scorching where they come into contact with the wooden trellis. They were doing pretty well until now. Any ideas on how to keep them healthy?
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  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    More water.  Looks like you have it planted close to a wall and walls suck up moisture so the soil will be bone dry down below where the clematis want to send its roots.

    Give it 10 litres a day, in the evening, and pour it slowly so it soaks in.  Keep this up all through the heatwave and then, since it's a baby, just 5 litres a day till the autumn rains set in.
    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
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd put wires on that trellis, rather than letting it have all that contact with young stems.
    That's causing rubbing, and also making it difficult for the stems to twine round it. 

    Is it a macropetala? I think L. Beauty is.  They're happiest in drier conditions, but they need watered initially until established. It's important to know what type of clematis you have  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • J9guerinJ9guerin Posts: 4
    Are the roots in the sun? As I think they like the shade. Not sure. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No - that's largely a myth @J9guerin.

    They like moisture for their roots, and some don't even need a lot of that. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • David.lifedrawingDavid.lifedrawing Posts: 27
    A belated thank you to all who replied. I followed Obelixx's advice and increased the watering to 10 litres a day and that really helped a lot. The rain is here now and the heat is passed, they seem much happier. 
  • yorkshireroseyorkshirerose Posts: 574
    Can you plant something low in front of it to shade the roots? They do need shading.
    A gardener's work is never at an end  - (John Evelyn 1620-1706)
  • David.lifedrawingDavid.lifedrawing Posts: 27
    Thanks for the advice. There's a thick layer of bark mulch and I also now placed some plastic pots cut in half in front of the base of the plants. Hopefully the roots are a bit cooler now.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    The plastic pots will just attract slugs and snails.
    As @Fairygirl has suggested, it is a myth that they need shade at the base.
    What most of them need, is moisture at the roots,
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Clematis cling on with their leaves wrapped around something, they’ll never wrap around beams on a fence, a wire construction nailed to the fence will do, you can buy plastic coated wire trellis pieces. 

    Anything you put on the ground will restrict the rain water, and as Punkdoc says will attract slugs, there’s no need to cover roots, just give water. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Think the OP has trellis @Lyn, but I suggested wires anyway. Much easier for those types to cling to.
    The trellis can be difficult for the slightly fleshier stems of macropetala. Mine has another clematis to wind round nearby, and wires on vine eyes, although the alpinas don't have any problem. 
    Sorry - I don't have a pic. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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