First Clematis is Dying

14 years ago

I planted my first clematis (General Sikorski) in late June, bought from a good nursery. It was a very healthy plant with three vines. One died rather promptly. Then all of a sudden last week the edges of all the leaves on another vine turned brown and now that vine looks like a complete goner. Here in New England we've had lots of rain, so I don't think it's lack of water. Could it be too much? It was planted in a large hole with lots of compost. I did sprinkle a little Pro-gro fertilizer around it a couple weeks ago. Are they really sensitive to fertilizer (I thought they were heavy feeders, and I don't think the compost I used was high in nitrogen).

Just wondering if there's anything I should do / not do to save the plant.

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Comments (7)

buyorsell888
14 years ago
Cut it back.

Unfortunately, this sort of behavior is common with Clematis. Especially Type IIs. It isn't dying just acting like it.
vickima
Original Author
14 years ago
You mean just cut back the dead-looking part right? I'm glad to hear it's not dead, but with one lonely looking vine left it's not exactly thriving. When you say this behavior is common, do you mean a vine or two will shrivel during the season? Perhaps when the plant is fully established it's not so noticeable because there are many more vines? Or do you mean it's common for 2/3rds of the plant to die off at bloom time? Weird. I had no idea they behaved this way.
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buyorsell888
14 years ago
I mean cut back the whole thing. This will encourage more vines to come up from the crown. Did you bury the crown deeper in the ground than it was in the nursery pot? If not, you should.

Clematis often grow more vines/leaves than their roots can support and especially when transplanted they dieback.

They also dieback in summer when they don't stay moist enough to suit.

Cutting them back when planting them and cutting them back every year for the first few years really helps.

Cutting them back always helps them, does not hurt them.

They usually outgrow this dieback/wilting problem.
vickima
Original Author
14 years ago
The whole thing huh? Even this late in New England? I'm not sure when in the season they start sending up their vines. We can get an early frost in late Sept.

I didn't plant it deeper than in the nursery pot. I read about that after it was already in the ground. Do you think I should dig it up, plant it deeper, cut off the vines and hope for the best?

Thanks for your help; it sure *looks* like it's dying. :)

Here's a pic. Don't know if you can see the crown very well:

{{gwi:617371}}
ingridkl
14 years ago
Yes, dig it up and plant it deeper, 4-6 inches, cut it down and water.
vickima
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the advice! I'll cut it down and replant this weekend.
buyorsell888
14 years ago
It isn't dying, that is normal behavior. Unfortunately.

Dig it up, plant it 4-6" deeper and at an angle towards the trellis then cut it off. The dead vines you can cut all the way off and the ones with leaves you can leave two sets of leaves.