" The neighbours have it growing along their fences and over their evergreens so I have to keep the wretched thing"
I don't follow? Most people I speak to seem to feel that Russian Vine is a curse and don't enjoy it at all.Perhaps your neighbours would celebrate if the wretched thing was removed
Russian Vines roots very easily from layering. If your neighbours want to keep it in their gardens let them … you can get rid of the original plant … I can guarantee there’ll be several offshoots already rooted in your neighbours’ gardens.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It would be wrong to underestimate how big a job this is. Trying to follow the stems back on the clematis is virtually impossible, unless you have a huge amount of patience and time. Get part way through and realising just how big a job it is, there is no turning back. It isn't practical, it is a full renovation in my opinion. Even with the clematis on the top the two will be supporting each other. Both need to go back being very much aware of nesting birds.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
What a massive task you have on your hands. I would be inclined to identify the clematis then cut the whole lot down to about a metre and dig it all out, a bit at a time. It will be very hard work, do you know a strong young man to help? Then plant a new clematis, or pot up a rooted sucker of the clematis and plant that back. I personally would dose the whole mass with glyphosate but not everyone likes using weedkillers. It would take a few weeks to die off but would be a lot easier physically for you. Both plants are vigorous monsters and will overtake very large areas, there are one or two Montana clematis around here that look lovely when in full flower but are growing through boundary hedges which are left to ther own devices.
Please Please don't use weedkillers if you are fit and well chop everthing back to a few feet. You will need a plan for getting rid of alot of rubbish. With a full renovation you can take it in stages as you won't be spending time following back stems. If you have something to disguise these two plants are the ones often used but the problem is the faster a plant grows the sooner it becomes out of control. It is illegal to cut back/ prune if there are nesting birds.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
@Fire Yes they might but if many years have passed it would be easy to imagine what is there. Both plants are srong growing I would be suprised if it isn't a huge task.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
It's still not difficult to isolate and remove the Russian vine. Now that you know which is the clematis, you can trace that back to the base, and if you want to leave it for the flowering period, just tie a bit of string or similar round the main trunk/stem[s] so that you know where it is, and cut everything back after that, and pull it off the fence. It will then be easier to see where the R. vine is coming from and how/where it's growing. Weedkiller may be needed in this instance, and I wouldn't be too harsh on anyone who finds this the easiest method of removal, as trying to dig it out could be problematic depending on what else is there, where it's rooting, and how established it is. As already mentioned, they can root easily. It will probably take a few goes at it though. The extent of the clematis and the R.vine growth will also depend on the size/length of the fence, but clematis respond well to being rejuvenated, especially the early ones. I use a hedgetrimmer on early clematis when I want to do that, but shears are also fine if stems aren't too hefty. You can cut them back to a low height, and it pays to do it now and again with montanas so that they don't get out of hand, but even the 'smaller' ones can get quite big if conditions suit, so a good haircut keeps them healthy, and new growth can be tied in lower down to get good coverage.
It's certainly not up to you to keep neighbours happy with what you have growing @StephenTrooper. If they want plants to cover some of their own - they can buy them!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Following might help - Clematis climb by means of wrapping their leaf petioles around their support. I don't grow Russian vine but I believe that it has twining stems, a bit like a honeysuckle. Also clematis very distinctly have paired opposite leaves at each node.
A happy 2024 to all .I have taken on board what Fire said about my vine and the neighbours not wanting it . I have asked them again if it’s a pest and all have said no they like it . It looks like I’m stuck with it ! It’s in a corner in my wild area so not really in the way it’s covered in summer by nettles and other grasses so it’ll be ok . Hope our friend has managed to isolate his clematis and has decided the fate of his vine .
Posts
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I would be inclined to identify the clematis then cut the whole lot down to about a metre and dig it all out, a bit at a time. It will be very hard work, do you know a strong young man to help? Then plant a new clematis, or pot up a rooted sucker of the clematis and plant that back. I personally would dose the whole mass with glyphosate but not everyone likes using weedkillers. It would take a few weeks to die off but would be a lot easier physically for you.
Both plants are vigorous monsters and will overtake very large areas, there are one or two Montana clematis around here that look lovely when in full flower but are growing through boundary hedges which are left to ther own devices.
The extent of the clematis and the R.vine growth will also depend on the size/length of the fence, but clematis respond well to being rejuvenated, especially the early ones. I use a hedgetrimmer on early clematis when I want to do that, but shears are also fine if stems aren't too hefty. You can cut them back to a low height, and it pays to do it now and again with montanas so that they don't get out of hand, but even the 'smaller' ones can get quite big if conditions suit, so a good haircut keeps them healthy, and new growth can be tied in lower down to get good coverage.
It's certainly not up to you to keep neighbours happy with what you have growing @StephenTrooper. If they want plants to cover some of their own - they can buy them!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Clematis climb by means of wrapping their leaf petioles around their support. I don't grow Russian vine but I believe that it has twining stems, a bit like a honeysuckle.
Also clematis very distinctly have paired opposite leaves at each node.
Hope our friend has managed to isolate his clematis and has decided the fate of his vine .