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Ask the Clematis Queen
In Which Zones Do Clematis Bloom In United States?
Zoning is not an exact science so why do I choose to use zones when I address where clematis will bloom? At this time I do not know of a better way to give American clematis gardeners a perspective on where clematis will bloom in our country without using zones.
Stem Rot (aka Wilt) revisited...
Stem rot is best defined as a collapse (either totally or partially) of a clematis due to fungus. To date there is no known cure. With a little bit of prevention and luck, you can increase your chances of steering clear of stem rot. The important thing, however, is knowing how to avoid it, because chances are your clematis will eventually catch it.
Labeling Your Clematis!!!
Have you ever planted a clematis and then forgot which one it is? I am not sure if it is old age or just that I have planted so many, but I must admit that I have done this a few times lately. To my dismay all I can do is wait until the plant blooms to positively ID it. Obviously I need to be more diligent with my record-keeping noting what, where and when I plant. To correct this situation I have divided my garden into sections on a map and given each section a number. This enables me to more easily locate and identify what’s out there.
NEW Clematis
If you want to be the first in your neighborhood to try a new clematis why not make it an American one?
Propagation of Clematis by Cuttings
This is an area I have not really delved into personally but I feel it is very important. My interest was peaked when Mr. Jan van Acquoij, who is a member of the International Clematis Society, wrote an article in this year’s ICS journal, Clematis International 2002, titled Propagation of Clematis via Cuttings. He is an extremely generous and intelligent man. In 2001 he had asked fellow International Clematis Society member to share their experiences in taking cuttings of clematis. He planned to compile all of their input for a future article that he had hoped would take the mystery out of taking cuttings. Unfortunately, he received no assistance (“not even one member put a pen to paper”.). I am sure that this was rather disappointing considering that there are many esteemed gardeners and producers in the clematis field in the society. However, this did not daunt him. He still took it upon himself to write a very insightful article on how to take cuttings. He is truly to be commended for such a wonderful piece.
Ungrateful Children
Children.....Humphhh! You know, you do your best for them, feed them the finest food, make sure they have pure clean water to drink, discipline them when they need it, in general train them up in the way they should go. And how is one repaid...well, they test their independence and leave home!!
Winterizing Your Babies
Winter conditions can vary from zone to zone. Snow cover, early and late frosts and moisture in the soil can all have an affect on your clematis. Winterizing your clematis may be an option or even a necessity in colder locales where the ground freezes and can get down to 15° F or lower.
Grasshoppers
Any of you that have had grasshoppers in your garden know they are one of the most destructive pests. They are voracious feeders and are by no means picky eaters. Since they are herbivores, almost any plant in your garden is fair game including your clematis.
PROPAGATION
The botanical definition of propagation is: to produce new plants, either by vegetative means involving the rooting or by sowing seeds i.e. in gardening terms it refers to the different ways of starting new plants from a parent plant.
The Many Faces of Clematis
This is an article that appeared in the May/June 2006 issue of Fine Gardening. Get to know the wide variety of flower shapes and sizes this popular vine offers...flower shapes can resemble bells, lanterns, tulips, stars, saucers, or even little elf hats.
Clematis Names, Grouping and Spelling
Are you confused by the recent influx of different clematis names, groupings and/or spelling attributed to a single clematis? Who is correct when it comes to the right one?
Those Nasty Earwigs...
Earwigs are omnivorous. They wait for darkness to begin their hunt for food and shelter. They enjoy dark, damp areas and feed on dead or decaying wood such as boards or mulch. They also feed on decomposing plants and animal matter. Even though the bulk of their diet consists of decaying substances they will eat algae, mosses, insects and spiders…dead or alive.
TEPALS or SEPALS???
Botany is the scientific study of plant life. It covers the technical terminology of a plant’s anatomy. Even though it is a science it is not an absolute science, so this leaves room for disagreement. One such area of disagreement is the name for the petal-like division of the clematis flower. Is it a tepal or a sepal?
Finding the Lost American Clematis
I am amazed so little has been written about our American Clematis. I hope that there are others of you out there who also care about preserving the history of American Clematis.
Repotting, Moving or Transplanting Clematis
Now is the best time to repot, move or transplant clematis. In the January/February 2000 issue of The Clematis Chronicle I addressed the issue of transplanting your clematis for the first time. At that time I was reluctant to recommend transplanting as an option. You might even say I was squeamish about the whole idea. Since then I have performed many moves of my babies (a.k.a. clematis) without any casualties, so I am going to say that, with some reservations, it can be done quite successfully. I would like to share a few techniques that I use before you attempt any moves.
Wood Ashes & Clematis
What do you do with the wood ashes that are left from a fireplace or wood burning stove? Not living in a locale where we build a lot of fires, I am not faced with the problem of a large accumulation of wood ashes. Many resourceful gardeners use them in their gardens, so I decided to look into what wood ashes might do for your garden, especially Clematis.
Gloves…The Gardener’s Best Friend
Gloves are defined as a fitted covering for the hand with a separate sheath for each finger and the thumb but I prefer to think of them as a gardener’s best friend. Gardening gloves are often overlooked as a fundamental “tool” for gardening while some have even relegated them to being a gardening item for sissies.