Warning: Not Beautiful! (Part 1)

In looking back at the spring and summer gardening seasons, I want to acknowledge and learn from the things that didn't work out. It's not going to pretty, but it has to be done.

The clematis 'Freckles' was expensive but I wanted something lovely to grace the trellis in the rose garden. Its dramatic bloom would have fit into the pink/white/green color scheme beautifully. I planted it eagerly, and it quickly grew enough to begin twining around the trellis:

April 28, 2007

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It made its way to the top of the trellis but remained spindly. The growth seemed slow for a twining vine, and I realized I had no hope of seeing blooms this year. But it obediently followed my "training" to begin growing across the trellis horizontally:

July 2, 2007

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In August, despite faithful and appropriate watering throughout the season, the vine and leaves gradually turned brown and eventually became brittle. When I knew the plant had reached the point of no return, I cut it down. (No, I don't have a photo of the dead clematis. Who wants to look at photos of dead plants?  But I need to get tougher about documenting the failures. For a complete garden photo journal, they need to be included.) Alas, the clematis was no more:

August 27, 2007

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This is the second time I've tried to gow clematis, and I don't think I'll try again. The 'Freckles' clematis is a perennial plant and perhaps it'll come back next year and do better. But I do have an alternative in mind. I've been wanting to add morning glories to my garden -- after all, that's the name of the blog -- and maybe I'll put them here next year. I'm determined to make full use of this lovely trellis!

 

Comments

[Muum]

I bet it will come back next year. Clematis take some time to become established, I think. I am sometimes pleasantly surprised to see something come back that I thought had died. Here's hoping..

[Bev]

Beth, your idea was great. I can just see a clematis on that beautiful trellis. It looks like the perfect spot too?? Did it maybe get too much moisture? Sometimes that happens to my spindly plants. I hope it does surprise you and come back. In the meantime, the thing I don't particularly like about morning glories is that they take most of the summer to grow up a trellis. Once established though you will have more than you ever imagined when they reseed. Good luck, whatever you choose to do for that lovely spot.

[vero]

I've tried several times to grow clematis, and have the same experience as you. I think it is some kind of fungus. But the clematis grows again the year after, with the same result, at least for me. I've changed the places, but without any succes. While there are clematis blooming at some neighbors...

[Christa]

Ditto what Muum said. If the roots are still in the ground, it might come back for you next year and grow stronger. That is a beautiful trellis you have!

[Curtis]

Hopefully it will come up next year to surprise you. I have read it is not a plant that is easy to grow.

[Beth]

Thanks so much for the encouragement, everyone! It is possible, Bev, that I gave it too much water. The plant and roots are still there -- I just cut off the dead vine. I'll be anxious to see if it comes back next year, and if so I hope it does better. I didn't realize they strengthen over time, so I'll give it a couple more chances.

[Wicked Gardener]

I wanted to try clematis next year - the magazines all make them look so easy! I wonder what went wrong? You can't go wrong with the Morning Glories. I really like Moonflowers too, if you are out by the garden in the evenings.

[Ewa]

yeah... there is some problems with clematis... I had same and I can share my experience. It is definately a fungus caused by soil conditions having not enough drainage for the needs of this plant. So what you should do in such case, is to cut the plant at the soil and dig it out. The best you can do is to dig a new hole as big as possibly you can do. 70 cm will do :) add 10-15cm layer of small stones, gravel or something smilar, to the bottom. Fill the hole with soil very reach in organic matter and plant your clematis again. At the end spray it well with fungicide 2-3 times in few days break - according to instruction (grapefruit extracts will do, does not have to be chemical fungicide) and wait till next year.
You can also choose clematis that is more resistant to pests and diseases like Clematis x jackmanii.
Actually I made both in my garden and it worked :) so don't give up! you will have clematis growing like crazy one day in that beautifully chosen spot.
greetings