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Clematis Armandii & Solanum Jasminoides Album (Potato Vine)

david.flemingdavid.fleming Posts: 10
in Plants
Hi All
I'm new to the forum and to gardening! Earlier this year I planted 6 Clematis Armandii & 4 Solanum Jasminoides Album (Potato Vine) across a South Facing wide back garden wall. They took off very nicely and we're happy with the coverage they have already provided. We have since decided to put raised beds in (2 sleepers deep, so approx 1.5 feet high) and are concerned we will need to raise the root balls of each climber. 
Will I get away with leaving the root balls reasonably deep in the ground or should I raise these up before filling the beds with top soil.
Thanks for your help.
Dave
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Posts

  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    You do not say how wide the new beds would be. To be honest, with the number of climbers you have already planted, the beds would need to be at least 21/2 to3 mtrs. minimum wide as the climbers are going to grow outwards as well as upwards and will take all the moisture from the soil at the base of the wall where there is always a lack of water anyway.
    I hope your wall is huge as the solanum will eventually grow enormous, smothering everything in its path. I know they are probably diddy little beings at the moment but believe me, they will soon turn into massive tangles.
    The armandii not so much, it is a much daintier plant but will go up a long way.
  • david.flemingdavid.fleming Posts: 10
    Hi Joyce
    Thanks for your detailed reply - I didn't foresee these growing so large. I hope they don't become an eyesore!
    The beds are only about 3/4 of a metre deep! I can already see the potato vine starting to engulf the Armandii!
    Do you think I will need to raise the root balls in order for the roots to receive enough water? 
    Also, when do I stop watering each for the year? I'm based in Dublin, Ireland, so we get a fair sprinkling of water as it is!
    Thanks
    Dave
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They grow huge - I hope that wall is some length!
    You'll need to lift them - 18 " extra depth is too much, even for that clematis.

    You need to water until properly established, but it sounds like they are already. You'll need to keep an eye on them in spring though, because, despite the good rainfall you'll get, the foliage on the armandiis will prevent water getting in through it, and in a raised bed, there's sharper drainage. Plants dry out more quickly. The sheer amount of plants will soak it up too. 

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



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • david.flemingdavid.fleming Posts: 10
    Hi Fairygirl
    Thanks a million for the advice. I was hoping to not have to lift them as they are all on wire mesh on the wall etc. I might get away with shifting them up a small bit without moving mesh etc. 
    Sounds like I won't be seeing either of the passion flower climbers I have in the middle of all of this also! :/
    Thanks again.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    As Joyce says you have a huge amount of plants and Fairygirl says hope your wall is also huge.
    We have a Clematis armandii (one!) and we love it as it grows on a wall dividing us from neighbours. Being everygreen and sweet scented flowers in late winter is brilliant. But it does grow a lot in a year. Thankfully it is easily pruned back.
    We also have a winter jasmine in the same area and it has never done well as it can't compete with the armandii.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    Yes dig them up. As others have said your border will be over-hung by the Solanum and Clematis (but they won't take up much space at ground level so I don't think you actually need 2.5-3m deep beds).
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • david.flemingdavid.fleming Posts: 10
    Hi Everyone - thanks for all of your advice. We lifted all of the climbers, and within a number of days it appears the Solanum Jasminoids are dying! It began with them wilting, with leaves turning a yellowish colour, and after fairly heavy rainfall in Dublin last night, a good portion of their leaves are now resting in the new raised bed! Is there anything I can do to revive them, or do I just wish for the best next Spring? 99% sure we didn't damage any parts of the base of the plant when lifting (they were out of the earth for no more than 10 minutes) and we didn't damage much of the root ball either.
    All thoughts would be most welcome. Thanks.
  • InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
    It is so nice to have someone who replies to each post individually. Neither of these plants is totally hardy in UK. In Southern UK you will probably get away with it with global warming. Elsewhere I would give them a heavy mulch of compost and/ or straw. I (Lincolnshire) used to pile lawn edgings on top of anything that was at all tender, then remove it in spring.
    Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
  • david.flemingdavid.fleming Posts: 10
    Hi Inglezinho - thanks for the reply; might it be the case that the roots were just shocked by the move and will rebound eventually? It is still ~15degC in Dublin, so I note quite winter weather here yet!
    Am I best off chopping them back now to send the energy back to the roots? 
    Was thinking of giving them a tomato feed also.

    Will definitely mulch them when temperature decreases further, thanks for the tip!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That Solanum certainly wouldn't be hardy here, and I'm not sure C. armandii is either. I don't know anyone who grows it though.
    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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