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Clematis was fine all winter but now dropping leaves

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  • Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
    edited April 2023
    If it does die, I have a climbing hydrangea that, after 3 years, is finally starting to wake up. 

    However, seems like I planted it too close to my roses. See this thread: https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1071142/climbing-hydrangea-support-see-pic/p1 summary was that I didn't have space for a climbing hydrangea.

    If the Clematis dies, potentially there would be a few metres of space here, could I transplant the climbing hydrangea here? There is some honeysuckle in pots I could relocate once hydrangea leaps as you can see in attached picture. If I cleared those pots hydrangea would have a space about 5 meters wide and 5 meters high to grow into. I know they can get much bigger but I could prune it.

    As you can probably tell, I really want to accommodate the hydrangea.

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    A fence isn't strong enough to support H petiolaris if that is what you want to plant.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Our armandii is just coming into full bloom and it is fabulous. The leaves early on did suffer when we had frosts after frosts but....it is wonderful now with full flowers and new growth. Have to say that we have never feed it and it has been in the garden for some 30 years!!!!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I agree with @GardenerSuze - H.petiolaris is a very, very heavy plant once it gets going.
    It rarely works on a fence because of that, as it pulls the fence down over time.
    A wall is the only suitable support long term.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    It can take three years for H petiolaris to put down it's roots, it is only then that it starts to climb.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
    It can take three years for H petiolaris to put down it's roots, it is only then that it starts to climb.
    Thanks. It has. been in the ground 3 years and is starting to climb. Would transplanting it set it back to year 1 having to settle into its new location or would it carry on quickly?

    Guess it cannot cling to the galvanised wire but could tie some of the main vines to the wire to help take some of the weight or maybe it's just not doable and has to come out.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Unless the wires are extremely hefty and properly attached to something - ie not just on vine eyes, then no - that won't work. 
    They cling/root to a flat surface- in the same way ivy does. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Ivy2Ivy2 Posts: 73
    Fairygirl said:
    Unless the wires are extremely hefty and properly attached to something - ie not just on vine eyes, then no - that won't work. 
    They cling/root to a flat surface- in the same way ivy does. 
    I see. What would you suggest as hefty? I have two 3 meter fence posts that are concreted into the ground by that wall with galvanised tensioned wires between them and vine eyes attaching them to fence posts about 5 meters apart. I could put something heftier between the two fence posts but not sure what. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It still isn't really suitable though - you'd have a helluva job attaching them well enough because they want to attach to a flat surface. They'd attach to the bit of wall you have, but above that, they'd naturally want to head for that fence. I expect they'd just pull out those vine eyes on the way too. There's too much air.
    If the galvanised wire was attached to a four inch post every metre or so, and the posts were against a solid surface, that might be strong enough, but then again - if there was a solid surface, you wouldn't need wire at all. 

    I really can't see that working with the set up you have - sorry. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited April 2023
    @Ivy2 Sorry I admire your enthusiasm to try find a home for it but I do agree with @Fairygirl

    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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