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Don't know what to do now - Clamatis & Forsythia done for?

Gn0meGn0me Posts: 85
in Problem solving
After the strong winds a few weeks ago, a couple of fence panels were destroyed.
My neighbours said they would replace them but had to cut back the plants to remove the old trellises. I helped them put the new panels and managed to take a couple photos beforehand.

Now, I don't know what to do with the remaining plants. Are they lost now that they're detached from the fence? Some parts are held up with hanging basket brackets screwed onto the posts.

I never trained them myself and am pretty ignorant with any needed maintenance. The plants were there when I moved in.

Also and as you can see by the photos, is that thick creepy looking trunk and branches the beginnings of the Clamatis and is most of it dead? During the summer, it does flower quite well.

Basically, I don't know what to do or use if it's possible to put humpty and dumpty back together again.

Thanks very much and hope you can help.

Posts

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited 16 January
    @GnOme Your clematis is huge.  Pink flowers maybe? Take a look at Clematis Montana is it spring or summer flowering?  Normally these can be cut hard back after flowering with no harm done. An older plant does carry more risks. I can see frost or snow on the ground at present if the ID is correct you could try cutting back some of the growth if we get a mild spell.  Clematis Montana is really too strong growing for a fence and it may be why the fence has broken.
    You mention Forsythia again this responds to a good cut.
    I think you will be very unlucky to loose either unless we get very low temperature that are persistent over 4/ 5 days.
     
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Gn0me Just to add if you carry out hard pruning in spring say to 2/3ft you will need to be aware of nesting birds. It is illegal to prune if you have a nest that is in use. If it is all over the lawn you may just have to take drastic action now. I would consider growing something that doesn't get so big.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If that's yellow flowers I see in some of the pics, at this time of year, it's most likely winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) not forsythia. It will grow back from a hard chop back, and will be even better if you cut back the monster clematis so that the jasmine isn't being swamped by it. As @GardenerSuze said, clematis montana really is better on a sturdier structure - a smaller clematis would be better on the fence, so if the montana doesn't respond well to a hard chop, think of it as an opportunity rather than a loss.
    There could be some forsythia in there as well but it will be just bare branches at the moment. Cutting back forsythia now will lose this spring's flowers but it'll be fine in the longer term.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    A good prune, right back for both.  Think "tidy".  You might miss one year's clematis flowers if you leave it late, and forsythia/jasmine flowers if you do it too early.  Do both immediately after yjey flower.
     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."
  • Gn0meGn0me Posts: 85
    Thanks for all your advice. 

    After a bit of research @JennyJit looks like you're right, Winter Jasmine! Until a week ago I didn't know what it was called until my neighbour said it was Forsythia.

    Regardless, I'm now toying with the idea of starting afresh. Upon closer inspection, it really looks like a mess, especially where the two plants meet: lots of branches that seem to have warts(!) on them but no flowers. I've never done any training or pruning myself except when they get close to the floor.

    As already said, I really am a novice to all this so will bow to any advice you can offer.

    If I do start afresh, what type or types of plants would you recommend to cover the fence and trellises especially for privacy?

    Would something that is evergreen be better but do any flower? Perhaps I should start a new thread as it would no longer be about the existing plants?

    Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    Be careful because if this is your neighbours fence and they move the new owners can demand you remove anything you have grown up or placed on the fence. I have this problem with an obnoxious neighbour. Surely the fence gives you enough privacy without wanting to cover it in heavy growth which may cause future problems with the wooden fence. You could buy some of these large shaped metal trellises and grow climbers up them as another option like I do which are set slightly back from the fence.
  • Gn0meGn0me Posts: 85
    Waterbut said:
    Be careful because if this is your neighbours fence and they move the new owners can demand you remove anything you have grown up or placed on the fence. I have this problem with an obnoxious neighbour. Surely the fence gives you enough privacy without wanting to cover it in heavy growth which may cause future problems with the wooden fence. You could buy some of these large shaped metal trellises and grow climbers up them as another option like I do which are set slightly back from the fence.

    That's an interesting point, actually I'm not sure who the fence legally belongs to, nevertheless, it did cross my mind whether they would actually want climbers growing through the trellises or they had ideas of of their own. Thankfully, it's all amicable and friendly but as you said, new neighbours might not be so nice.

    The fence panels themselves are only 4 feet high so without the trellises being covered, you can easily see into next door unfortunately. I suppose with hindsight, I could've suggested getting 5 feet panels instead, then if trellises were needed, they could be attached at the same height as the panels. That way there's no interference with the other side, although I'm not sure if that's actually practical or a common practice.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If you could make the border deeper (maybe around a metre) you could grow free-standing shrubs instead of climbers. That would avoid potential future issues with the fence.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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