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Fence fixing and clematis

lydiaannlydiaann Posts: 300
in Problem solving
We are going to have a new fence post and panel fitted in a couple of weeks' time.  I have a lovely, healthy Clematis "Wesselton", just finished blooming on the current, dilapidated panel. I would like to 'lay' the clematis on the ground if I can, but would I be better to take it right back and risk a year or so without its wonderful blue 'bells?  It's possible we MAY move if the right place came up (time and tide have crept up on us stealthily, unfortunately) but I would still like to leave it in good shape for anyone else as it is so lovely. The workman would be able to work from round the back, which is a bonus (I think, it separates one part of the garden from another and is backed by lawn). Any ideas, please?

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    We dug ours out as far away from the rootball as we could manage and put it in a bin bag. We slotted it back almost immediately after the cement had dried. I don't think it even noticed. It wasn't the same variety as yours and we were getting a post reinforced. A fence panel replacement would be less invasive, I suppose.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    edited April 2023
    Would you consider wrapping/trailing the Clematis around an obelisk structure close to your planned new fence? No need to cut it back or worry about re-introducing it to your new fence then.

    Incidentally, when I bought my house the fences that were the most "battered" and damaged were the ones with ivy or other creepers growing on them. I replaced my fences. One neighbour's fence has been hanging by a thread for years and gets worse every year as she has a multitude of ivy, Russian ivy, Virginia creeper etc engulfing her fence panels. Her other fence panels without any creepers are still ok. She won't replace the damaged panels as she is hanging on to her creepers. 
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    The clematis should be fine if you can carefully disentangle it as much as possible and lay it flat on the ground but note that the leaves may well be eaten by slugs.
    You may well inadvertently break a few stems/tendrils but that doesn't really matter.

    When we had a fence replaced a few years ago, we had to untie and lay three 15ft strands of wisteria which survived well and flowered the following year.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd cut it back. Much easier to get your fence sorted, and easier to protect the clematis when it's a small size. 
    It'll grow back no problem.  :)

    If it gets trampled [probably] you'd have to spend time cutting all the damage back anyway. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • lydiaannlydiaann Posts: 300
    Thank you, Forkers, for all your bits and pieces of advice.  I shall be going out there this afternoon and will examine the plant from top to bottom to decide.  Looking at it again quickly this morning, I'm coming to the conclusion that it may come to cutting it back...but we'll see.  These latest wind storms (finishing yesterday) have shaken the panel backwards and forwards a lot so I have to figure out if more pieces have been broken off.  We're also, apparently, having a 'solid' panel, so the top one-third will not be woven into a trellis topper as it is now.  Drat!!  Although clematis will take to an overlaid trellis (i.e. attached to the fence) they do much better when they can go the whole hog and wave to the other side of the garden freely!  Thanks again for your invaluable insights.
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