need an expert's advice on The President

13 years ago

Hi all, I mainly post on the rose and cottage garden forums, but I do grow some clematis. My problem, I planted a President last year from a reputable nursery(mailordered). I followed instructions as to digging the hole and feeding. Last year about this time it turned black and disappeared. I din't worry because I'd read here that this can happen and it would come back stronger the next year.

I did see it come back a little stronger this year, but Just before it bloomed,it once again turned black and died.

Now I'm a patient person, but I've about had it! Should I get a new clematis? May I put it there, or is that spot death to clematis?

I do sucessfully grow Clair de Lune, Ramona, Niobe, Viola and the Blue Angel.

Any help or advice would be helpful. I live in Cen. OH and it has been hotter than normal with until recently a period of drought.

roseberri

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

buyorsell888
13 years ago
This behavior is rather common. It has nothing to do with that spot. Clematis often require a lot of patience.
judith5bmontreal
13 years ago
I've had a clematis (Seranata)for about 8 years that STILL gets wilt, and it seems to be getting worse every year. This summer it is looking pretty weak, and every stem is affected, so I'm giving up and digging it out. There are too many wonderful clematis out there to grow...
I'm also pretty patient (hard to be a gardener and not be patient, eh?), but 8 years??!!
Judith
Related Professionals
Simpsonville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · East Rancho Dominguez Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Franconia Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Mitchellville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Simi Valley Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · South Orange Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Zion Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Mount Wilson Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Goodyear Landscape Contractors · Andover Landscape Contractors · Berwyn Landscape Contractors · Mequon Landscape Contractors · Ronkonkoma Landscape Contractors · Weymouth Landscape Contractors · Raytown Landscape Contractors
roseberri, z6
Original Author
13 years ago
Buyorsellthanks for the encouragement, does that mean I should carry on, and is there anything I can do( I use rosetone and I did give it some alfalfa tean) to build it up better?
Judith you ARE patient! I'd say its time for a new clematis!
Thank you both for the responses!
roseberri
woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
13 years ago
I have a The President that I've had for 11 years and never had a problem with it. This year I notice that some bits of it have had wilt. Ditto with Vyvyan Pennell who never wilted before. I'm putting it down to the extremes of temperature and moisture we've had this year, starting with an extraordinarly dry, snowless and cold winter, followed by a cold, very dry spring that rapidly switched to a very hot and humid summer with alternating heavy rains and prolonged dry spells. I think they are very stressed plants so will wait and see what happens next year before I consider doing anything drastic. I have a Niobe in anther area. It wilted every year and I finally gave up on it and dug it out two years ago - but obviously missed a bit of it, because it came back last year. This year it has been rambling around the front bed as a groundcover and looking great with no signs of wilt!
judith5bmontreal
13 years ago
Roseberri, for the first couple of years, it was o.k., then the wilt got worse every year, affecting more and more stems. The only reason it lasted this long is because my sister gave it to me and I didn't want to hurt her feelings!
Judith