Thank yall so much! Yall have been so helpful. I live in North Texas near Dallas and I am just starting out so I have a lot to learn. Yes the summers here are brutal and weather swings everywhere are wild so I will do what I can to give them the best chance. And probably spend the money to get plants from a nursery next time, this was just at lowes, a big home improvement store here.
And I'm traveling to Scotland and England soon actually! My family is from there, can't wait to see Scotland for the first time!
That's great @easombd58511 - I hope the plants come away well for you. I understand the advantage of buying these inexpensive plants - we have, and use, lots of those sorts of shops here in the UK, because we don't all have a bottomless pit of money to spend! It may need a bit of work initially to get the right site and aspect for them, but fingers crossed they'll be ok. That clematis will certainly appreciate a bit of protection from your extreme summer heat, so a bit of dappled shade would be ideal, but the main thing is to plant it slightly deeper [when you do get it in the ground] and water really deeply every few days, so that it encourages the roots to stay down. Light watering only encourages the opposite, making it harder for it to stay well hydrated through those searing summers. Plenty of organic matter in the general area, to improve the soil before planting, will also help to retain any moisture. It will depend on the general type of soil you have too, but that helps most kinds, and gives plants a good start. It's also a myth about feet in the shade and head in the sun. Plenty of clematis are absolutely fine with very little sun, and many grow in complete shade. Naturally, they grow through other trees and shrubs, and many are well suited to scrambling through hedging
I hope you manage to get across here - and enjoy coming to Scotland. Just remember your midge repellent if you come in summer - especially in the west!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
And probably spend the money to get plants from a nursery next time, this was just at lowes, a big home improvement store here.
I've bought some nice plants from places like Lowes, Home Depot, and Job Lots - it's always a 50/50 chance with them, but what does survive I've been very happy with. It's not so much the plants aren't the best, it's that those places aren't actual garden centers and the people who care for them aren't always gardeners, so the plants can suffer from lack of proper care. Also bear in mind they'll ship in plants from halfway across the country that don't always thrive in your growing zone, so knowing your USDA zone is always best when purchasing perennial plants. Dallas is in zone 8 - you're lucky! A lot of plants will thrive where you are. I'm in zone 4/5, where we regularly see temperatures well below zero during winter for long periods of time. Good luck with those plants, I hope they do phenomenally well for you!
New England, USA
Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
I'm sure you'll get there with the planting @easombd58511 - we all experiment from time to time, and no matter how long we've been gardening, things don't always work out for us because plants don't read the advice and info!
Hope you enjoy Aberfeldy, but....west is best....
Don't forget to go through Bolfracks - it's a useful alternative to a swear word, and take a wee trip to Schiehallion - The Fairy Hill of the Caledonians, or Hill of the Fairies, as it has famous connections [see the link below] and is regarded as the central hill of Scotland, and the one where the largest amount of hills can be seen from. An easy walk up in summer conditions if you're reasonably fit
Thank you all! The clematis is doing well but my wisteria either got eaten or hacked by the guy who mows our lawn. Sad. I think an animal got it, but it's strange because critters have never gone at any of my other flowers.
Hope the clem continues to do well @easombd58511. Annoying about your wisteria though. If you get another one - put a nice fence around it and a 'keep off or else' sign so that at least the mower guy can't do any damage! Just to let you know too - this forum won't exist after Wednesday - we're being royally dumped. Many of us are moving to another one, Gardeners Corner, so if you need help, you'll find it there. I think there's another one which has lots of American members, but I cna't remember it's name. I expect Mr Google will help though
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
And I'm traveling to Scotland and England soon actually! My family is from there, can't wait to see Scotland for the first time!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It may need a bit of work initially to get the right site and aspect for them, but fingers crossed they'll be ok. That clematis will certainly appreciate a bit of protection from your extreme summer heat, so a bit of dappled shade would be ideal, but the main thing is to plant it slightly deeper [when you do get it in the ground] and water really deeply every few days, so that it encourages the roots to stay down. Light watering only encourages the opposite, making it harder for it to stay well hydrated through those searing summers. Plenty of organic matter in the general area, to improve the soil before planting, will also help to retain any moisture. It will depend on the general type of soil you have too, but that helps most kinds, and gives plants a good start.
It's also a myth about feet in the shade and head in the sun. Plenty of clematis are absolutely fine with very little sun, and many grow in complete shade. Naturally, they grow through other trees and shrubs, and many are well suited to scrambling through hedging
I hope you manage to get across here - and enjoy coming to Scotland. Just remember your midge repellent if you come in summer - especially in the west!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
And in Scotland I'll be up around Aberfeldy.
Hope you enjoy Aberfeldy, but....west is best....
Don't forget to go through Bolfracks - it's a useful alternative to a swear word, and take a wee trip to Schiehallion - The Fairy Hill of the Caledonians, or Hill of the Fairies, as it has famous connections [see the link below] and is regarded as the central hill of Scotland, and the one where the largest amount of hills can be seen from. An easy walk up in summer conditions if you're reasonably fit
https://www.scottishgeologytrust.org/geology/51-best-places/schiehallion/
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Just to let you know too - this forum won't exist after Wednesday - we're being royally dumped. Many of us are moving to another one, Gardeners Corner, so if you need help, you'll find it there. I think there's another one which has lots of American members, but I cna't remember it's name. I expect Mr Google will help though
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...