..just a caution about those Boulevard clematis chicky has mentioned above... my only experience of these was one called 'Ice Blue'.. cost me £18... and it was killed by frost after 2 years... killed outright...roots were dead....we did have a bad winter then... so if you see that one... choose another...
Love the look of Abilene but worry it states a couple of seasons to get going. Is there anything for impact this summer that's frost hardy. I do love the crossing petals more than the gappy petals but don't mind. i prefer larger flowers as I think on a small obelisk 4-5ft that will have largest impact. How fussy am I sounding!!
..they do look nice and would be suitable for your obelisk...and container... 'Rebecca' is one I keep admiring... I might try again with another at some point...
..incidentally...my growing conditions are quite different from obelixx above.... mine is growing in shade of north facing wall.. never gets the sun.. but is in good moist soil... I underplant with Geranium 'Cambridge'... as with all clematis I watch out for snails at this time of year....
I have a north facing wall that I would like to grow something against, the problem is the soil is full of builders rubbish. How big an area would I need to clear out around the roots. The soil when I find some seems to be a good loam.
..a common complaint...but it can be dealt with quite easily.... if you can manage to excavate a planting hole at least 12 inches square, 18 is better... then you should be able to get a container grown plant in there...get it off to a good start and the roots will find their way through any rubble... one quarter of my garden has this problem but like yours, with a good loam underneath... you just need to help the plants get to that loam...
I have 2 clematis growing on my back wall, north facing and planted in a mix of rubble from when it was a farm and builder's rubble from our renovations. I dug out a big hole as Salino advises but for two of them I also made a raised bed by making a square U with roofing beams and filling it with good garden compost mixed with some potting compost.
This gives the extra depth and fertility the clematis need and also supports a Falstaff rose. I've planted spring daffs and alliums plus hardy geraniums in one and hosta Fire on Ice in another and mulched the whole lot with chipped bark. These were done late autumn 2012 and all the plants are very happy. The clems are a Minuet and a Caerulea Luxurians.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Thanks. It is a north wall with plenty of light as there are no neighbouring buildings or trees and it gets some sun after 3:30 between the equinoxes. However it also suffers from brutal winds and severe frosts down to -32C in Jan 2009 but normally -20C in an average winter. This mild winter we've just had means all the plants in there are very happy and about a month ahead of usual schedule.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
..just a caution about those Boulevard clematis chicky has mentioned above... my only experience of these was one called 'Ice Blue'.. cost me £18... and it was killed by frost after 2 years... killed outright...roots were dead....we did have a bad winter then... so if you see that one... choose another...
I have an Abilene that is about 4 years old - so has come through some harsh frosts.
Love the look of Abilene but worry it states a couple of seasons to get going. Is there anything for impact this summer that's frost hardy. I do love the crossing petals more than the gappy petals but don't mind. i prefer larger flowers as I think on a small obelisk 4-5ft that will have largest impact. How fussy am I sounding!!
..they do look nice and would be suitable for your obelisk...and container... 'Rebecca' is one I keep admiring... I might try again with another at some point...
..incidentally...my growing conditions are quite different from obelixx above.... mine is growing in shade of north facing wall.. never gets the sun.. but is in good moist soil... I underplant with Geranium 'Cambridge'... as with all clematis I watch out for snails at this time of year....
I have a north facing wall that I would like to grow something against, the problem is the soil is full of builders rubbish. How big an area would I need to clear out around the roots. The soil when I find some seems to be a good loam.
..a common complaint...but it can be dealt with quite easily.... if you can manage to excavate a planting hole at least 12 inches square, 18 is better... then you should be able to get a container grown plant in there...get it off to a good start and the roots will find their way through any rubble... one quarter of my garden has this problem but like yours, with a good loam underneath... you just need to help the plants get to that loam...
I have 2 clematis growing on my back wall, north facing and planted in a mix of rubble from when it was a farm and builder's rubble from our renovations. I dug out a big hole as Salino advises but for two of them I also made a raised bed by making a square U with roofing beams and filling it with good garden compost mixed with some potting compost.
This gives the extra depth and fertility the clematis need and also supports a Falstaff rose. I've planted spring daffs and alliums plus hardy geraniums in one and hosta Fire on Ice in another and mulched the whole lot with chipped bark. These were done late autumn 2012 and all the plants are very happy. The clems are a Minuet and a Caerulea Luxurians.
..nice bit of flair and innovation there obelixx..just goes to show what you can do...
..and all on a north wall...I like that very much...
Thanks. It is a north wall with plenty of light as there are no neighbouring buildings or trees and it gets some sun after 3:30 between the equinoxes. However it also suffers from brutal winds and severe frosts down to -32C in Jan 2009 but normally -20C in an average winter. This mild winter we've just had means all the plants in there are very happy and about a month ahead of usual schedule.
..I know you're in Belgium but that must be quite a challenge...