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Clematis was fine all winter but now dropping leaves

Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
Apple blossom (see pic). Been in the ground about 3 years. Can't work out why it is looking like it's starting to die just when it should be ready to blossom.

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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited April 2023
    @Ivy2 Is there any sign of slug or snail damage at the base? No expert but does C Armandi flower early than this in the winter?

    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
    No sign of slugs or snail damage I don't think but will reexamine. Yes, you're right actually. Am sure it flowered in march last year. Hmmmm
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It could be thirsty if you're in an area that's had low rianfall over the winter.  Being so close to that wall will reduce available water in the soil and after a hot dry summer and then a changeable winter with too little rain in December/January/February it may well be stressed.

    Try giving it 15 litres of water a day for a week, pouring slowly so the water soaks in rather than  running off.   If it perks up, give it a liquid feed of tomato food as a tonic then give it a good mulch of well-rotted garden compost or spent compost mixed with some slow release fertiliser for clematis, roses or tomatoes and don't let it go thirsty this coming spring and summer.
    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
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Yes agree it could be thirsty!
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2023
    It could be thirsty, but I doubt if it is hungry.  Never feed a tonic to a sick person - the same with plants.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
    Ah. Ok will try watering lots for a week.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    C armandii are normally very strong growing plants - need plenty of root room and IME, perform best when S facing and sheltered from prevailing winds.If happy, they would normally be coming into flower later this month tho it depends on your location. 
    Hard to tell from the pics what the base area is like. As already mentioned, the dry summer won't have helped either. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    edited April 2023
    I did say water for a week and then, if it perks up, try feeding @bédé.  More sloppy reading on your part.

    @Ivy2 - give the watering a go and then observe how your clematis reacts.  If it does êrk up it will appreciate more watering and a tonic of liquid tomato feed will do it no harm.
    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
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    I think that's dead probably from the base up, the stems look brittle, but if you planted it deep enough, which you should have, then it may regrow from below ground level.   

    Ask yourself whether it's worth keeping, it's not going to flower this Spring, and it's rather ugly as it is... life's too short for me, that would be out in a flash... lots of nice Spring flowering plants to be had that are not so touchy about conditions..
    East Anglia, England
  • Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
    Yeah. I did feed it last week along with all my other climbers :/ 


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