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Is my clematis Montana dead?

tom_notontom_noton Posts: 6
in Problem solving
So I’m fairly new to gardening but I’m giving it my best shot. Planted my clematis back in the spring 2020 and it’s been doing great. Now the cold weathers here it’s looking a bit Woody and the bottom and it’s leaves are dropping. Not sure how normal this is? Should I prune her?

thanks guys 

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Welcome to the forum  :)
    I would say you have nothing to worry about, clematis always look tatty at this time of year.
    Don't prune it now or you will lose the flowers coming in the Spring. If you want to, you can prune it back after flowering, Montanas will take a hard prune, but usually just a light prune will be fine, if any at all.
    They can get extremely vigorous, so you might want to consider putting up more trellis or wires, and training it along the fence.
  • JessicaSJessicaS Posts: 870
    edited December 2020
    I have montanas everywhere in my garden and they generally look a mess at this time of year when dropping leaves so dont worry.  If you snip a bit off the end of a brown stem at the top you should see its still green inside. Id flick off the dead leaves and tidy them up around the base just to help prevent diseases etc but the plant will be fine.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Clematis fall into 3 basic flowering and pruning groups.  Montanas flower in spring on old wood made in previous years so only ever get pruned once flowering is over - pruning group 1 - and then only to keep them in bounds or, when mature, they can have a hard prune in order to regenerate and reinvigorate.

    Montanas are some of the most vigorous clematis so I would urge you to add more trellis either side and train all new growth horizontally  so you control the growth and get the flowers.  Otherwise it will all just head over the top of your fence and flower for your neighbour. 

    Clematis are gross feeders so I would also advise an annual mulch of well-rotted manure in autumn after leaf fall and then a handful or two of slow release feed for roses, clematis or tomatoes and make sure it never goes thirsty in hot and dry spells.  Yours is planted so close to the fence it may well be in a rain shadow so be vigilant in the growing season and give it 10 to 15 litres at a time, poured slowly so it soaks 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
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