Clematis 'Nelly Moser' issue

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by Kevin Cowans, Oct 8, 2019.

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  1. Kevin Cowans

    Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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    Hello @noisette47

    Thanks for the reply, and the advice, it is appreciated.

    Kevin
     
  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Hi Kevin, my apologies for being late in this thread but I missed it until now. Clematis, depending on the variety, can be slightly difficult to get off to a good start, but Nelly Moser is not one of those that I would put in that category, but that's the challenge of gardening. My advice, for what it's worth, is to leave the plant alone as any cutting down, etc will only disturb the plant. From what I can see in the images it is not Clematis Wilt, but I think it is a case of the plant showing signs of stress on
    being transplanted. While learning in the early years, I lost a few Clematis trying to understand what they like and need, but planting them deep, around 6" deeper than when in the pot, watering them well for at last a couple of weeks seems to work, so nothing fancy or deeply involved. They don't like drying out too much and during the growing/flowering seasons like regular feed of, say, Miracle Gro or Tomato feed and by the second year should make you smile with the results. I tend to ignore the "Experts" traditional advice in the Gardening Books and push things a little when it comes to planting, and I occasionly get visitors seeing the Gardenen Entrance for the first time who tell me that Clematis shouldn't be planted like that while seeing the hundreds of Clematis flowers covering and dripping from the entrance:heehee: The Garden Trellis entrance Clematis, for example, are planted so closely together it's impossible to tell which stem belongs to which Clematis so I ignore the rules on pruning the different groups and prune them all down to around 10 inches in one swoop. Most of my other Clematis I let grow within shrubs and hedges and only lightly prune them to keep them within bounds. All gardeners, including me!, suffer casualties along the way, and sometimes we cannot explain why a plant just didn't flourish. It could well be that a plant was suffering initially when standing at a Plant Nursery, or Superstore where you might have bought it but not showing the signs, and the shock of transplanting, however careful and gentle, tipped it over the edge.....all part of gardening. If everything we put in the garden grew like it should in the "rule book" we'd get bored! So, basically I would leave the Nelly Mose to settle in, don't mess it around by pruning it unless you see any diseased leaves, if it vanishes beneath the soil don't worry as there's every chance it will poke it's head above ground in the upload_2019-10-11_11-48-14.png upload_2019-10-11_11-52-30.png upload_2019-10-11_11-48-14.png upload_2019-10-11_11-52-30.png being planted, which is not unusual for Clematis. I've been growing Clematis for over 35 years and have a "impulse" collection now approaching around 165-170 of different classes and varieties scattered around the garden and a Trellis Garden entrance which, as you can see, has about 32-35 Clematis of different classes planted very close together on both sides.

    upload_2019-10-11_11-48-14.png

    upload_2019-10-11_11-52-30.png


    All but one, a Nelly Moser seem to be fine, however, the Nelly Moser has lost all it leaves which were looking very droopy.[/QUOTE]
     
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    • Kevin Cowans

      Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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      Hello @ARMANDII

      Thanks for the reply and your input, it is appreciated.

      Because of my health I had a garden designer choose all of the plants based on my requirements (colourful, scented, good for wildlife etc.) and place them, then had the gardener I use to do the planting.

      I am hoping to do most of the maintenance myself which I am really looking forward to as I believe it will really benefit me and am trying to read up on a lot of the plants for information etc.

      I will leave the Nelly Moser alone and see how it goes as apart from it losing all its leaves all the stems, and seed heads, look healthy, to me at least :)

      Because of having the planting done by someone else I am unsure as to how deep the Clematis' were planted, from what I can tell by the finger test they are only a couple of inches below the surface, hopefully that will be sufficient, if not, will I need to re-plant them deeper, in the Spring?

      Thanks in advance

      Kevin
       
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      • john558

        john558 Total Gardener

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        Hi Kevin, I put stones around the root area to keep them cool but letting to water in. J's Garden, 1.jpg
         
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        • ARMANDII

          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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          Hi, Kevin, most definitely not. If they're happy where they are, leave them be. Can I ask which direction your garden faces?, what kind of soil do you have?, and is the Clematis site in full sun or shade. Also, if you can find some flat slate or stone it' wouldn't hurt to place those around the Clematis to help keep them cool, it's an old trick, but it works.

          A garden is such a personal thing, Kevin, but if the result, when you look at it, makes you smile when you look at it then you've succeeded. Everyone of the GC Gang, (of which you are now a member:love30:), know that my garden is what I describe as a overplanted, chaotic, Cottage style garden

          upload_2019-10-11_15-18-51.png

          upload_2019-10-11_15-20-41.png


          on about 350' of pure sand that has had 40 years of adding Stable and cow manure by the trailer load. plus the additions of commercial compost, after use in pots and containers, over the years being put on the borders, so it is now a nice black loam easy to work with and the plants seem to like it All my plants are bought with wildlife and insects in mind, but also with low maintenance in mind, nearly all the plants in the borders are Hardy Perennials with about 5 layers of different bulbs, corms, underneath. It seems to work as all I seem to do is a little pruning, deadheading, weeding, as the garden plants grow and die back as the seasons pass.

          Well, taking your health into account, Kevin, don't push yourself to do things and overdo it. The garden will wait as you do one job after another, just enjoy the gardening and gardening as all the GC members do. There's a huge Mine of experience and knowledge, far greater than mine, within the GC Gang as we have gardeners who garden from a balcony, a flagged yard, just containers, a tiny garden to those with a couple of acres,and some are specialist in certain areas, and as you know, they're all very friendly and more than willing to pass on the benefit of their knowledge.
           
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            Last edited: Oct 11, 2019
          • Kevin Cowans

            Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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            Hello @ARMANDII

            Thanks for the reply.

            Firstly, how do you insert multiple Quotes from a Reply, I have never figured that one out, yet :)

            I will leave the Clematis' planted as they are, thanks for the advice.

            Now, the back garden faces SSW, the soil is a 6" dark loam mixed in with the original sandy(ish) well drained soil.

            Two of the Clematis (Nelly Moser, Rouge Cardinal) in the back garden are in the East Facing border in partial shade, two Clematis (Nelly Moser, Montana) are situated in the West facing border, the Nelly Moser in partial shade and the Montana in full sun.

            In the front garden there is one Clematis (Daniel Deronda) in a South facing border.

            Before I had the front, side and rear gardens planted I could not really bare to venture into the garden, however, since it has been planted I am out everyday, currently, weather permitting.

            You can actually see my garden progress in the 'My Garden Progress' thread here:

            My Garden Progress

            My health issues are not particularly physically related, I am Autistic so it is more of a state of mind as to how much I can do and how much I want to do.

            I hope you will have a look at the 'My Garden Progress' thread as the garden has come a long way in the last year.

            Thanks for your help.

            Kevin
             
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            • ARMANDII

              ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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              Hi Kevin, first put the text arrow at the beginning of the sentence you want to quote/reply, left click on the mouse and run the arrow along the sentence you want putting it it blue, then click on quote or reply. I always click on "reply" as it notifies the other person who's written the sentence that you've quoted or answered him/her. Then all you do is go down a couple of spaces from the quote/reply and do the same thing in quote/reply as you did before. Try it out and let me know if it works for you, you can always pm me. When I first started on GC there was a lot of things on the computer that I didn't know how to do........come to think of it there's still quite a few things left!!:dunno::heehee:

              To be honest, Kevin, that is not a issue with gardening, and I believe we have several members with the same condition. Just enjoy gardening and the friendship that you will find on Gardeners Corner and don't rush at it no matter what the gardening task.

              That sounds like the kind of soil that I have, Kevin, so you should be fine.

              Okay, Clematis like full Sun as for long as possible, so those facing East will flower but not as well as those facing South and SouthWest. One way to encourage the East facing Clematis to flower is to feed them regularly with Tomato feed, say, once a week, while not forgetting to feed the others around once a fortnight.

              Fantastic!!, that is what the lure of the garden does for many people. The pleasure of seeing plants grow, flower, the scents you can get while gardening is really good for the mind. During the Summer, during the evening, I sit out on the patio with a Mug of Tea and get all the scents of the garden drifting up to me and there's no price on that.!!!

              I most certainly will:thumbsup:

              You're most welcome, my friend.
               
            • Kevin Cowans

              Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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              Hello @ARMANDII

              I hope you are well.

              Just a quick update to this thread.

              The Nelly Moser in question is still looking sorry for itself with no signs of any new growth.

              All of the other Clematis, including another Nelly Moser, Daniel Deronda and a Rouge Cardinal have new leaf growth already.

              Thanks in advance

              Kevin
               
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              • ARMANDII

                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                Hi Kevin, I'm really sorry that your Nelly Moser is not looking good. I'm afraid that not all plants that we have survive either planting or growing on.
                But, Kevin, it is still only February so it may be that your Nellie Moser is still alive but dormant so I wouldn't give up on it just yet as it may show growth in late March or early April. As you know, I have around 130/136 Clematis but, I can assure you, that I have lost a few on the way. The Gardener who tells you that he/she has never had a plant die just after planting it or during a wet/cold Winter.....is telling you Fibs.:dunno::heehee: So be optimistic and hope that in early Spring your Nellie Moser will show signs of growth.:cat-kittyandsmiley::coffee:
                 
              • Kevin Cowans

                Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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                Hello @ARMANDII

                Thanks to the reply.

                I just thought it odd that all the other Clematis are showing new growth except this one.

                I shall wait until late March and keep an eye on it.

                Thanks

                Kevin
                 
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                • ARMANDII

                  ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                  Let me know how it gets on, Kevin:love30::thumbsup::cat-kittyandsmiley::coffee:
                   
                • Kevin Cowans

                  Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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                  Hello @ARMANDII

                  I hope you are well.

                  Just an update on the Nelly Moser.

                  I just noticed this morning that the Nelly Moser has collapsed, approximately 3" from the ground, possibly due to the heavy rain and wind we have had recently.

                  I have now cut it off at ground level, hopefully that was the right thing to do.

                  Having a close look at the cuttings they did not feel right, hard to explain but they felt brittle but also squidgy, contradictory I know, sorry.

                  At least it was not trampled by the workmen :(

                  Thanks in advance

                  Kevin
                   
                • Cuttings

                  Cuttings Super Gardener

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                  It does not look like clematis wilt to me, it looks like there may have been some damage to the roots when planting, or its been had a go at by a snail, they like to eat the bark, this causes the plant to droop, The fungal infection of Clematis Wilt causes the stems to die from the base upwards. Also if a stem is cut there should be a purple stain inside.
                  I would look for damage to the base of the stems myself.
                   
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                  • ARMANDII

                    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                    Hi Kevin, Cuttings could be right in his diagnosis. But I'm beginning to think the problem could be that the Nellie Moser doesn't like sitting in water for a prolonged time and that could be another reason for it's failure. You could take a drastic measure to try to save the Clematis if you have a spare pot and some compost and that is to gently dig the Clematis up and put it in the pot to see if that will save the Clematis. I've got around 171 Clematis around the garden at the moment and have been growing them for nearly 40 years and I have to confess I have lost a few, for no real reason that I could work out, but learnt that they like being planted fairly deeply, the base kept in a cool shade, and that while they like their roots damp, they don't like being in a badly drained area. Let Cuttings and myself know what you decide to do and how you get on.:cat-kittyandsmiley::coffee:
                     
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                    • Kevin Cowans

                      Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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                      Hello

                      Thanks for the replies.

                      To be honest, I am at a loss as to what the issue may be.

                      The soil in the area where it is planted, as well as the rest of the garden, is well drained and does not have any standing water so that should not be the issue.

                      I suppose root damage at planting time is a possibility, I did not do the planting so I am not able to say for sure.

                      I will let you know what happens.

                      Thanks

                      Kevin
                       
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