In our gardens there are not many perennials that withstand harsh winters. This is especially true for vines. If you are planning to plant a beautiful perennial vine on your site, be sure to pay attention to such a flower as clematis. Preparing for the winter of this plant will not take you much time, but it will delight you with its long and bright flowering!
Experienced gardeners begin their preparations for winter in late August. During this period, it is necessary to feed the vines with phosphorus-potash fertilizers. This is best done during irrigation: 50 g of fertilizer per 10-15 liters of water.
How to care for clematis in the fall?
Cover clematis can already begin in late October. These plants are not afraid of frost. It is necessary to prune the branches of vines, depending on the type of clematis, the length can range from 20 cm to 1 meter. Then foliage should be cut, dry and broken shoots should be removed. The foliage of most clematis does not fall, so if you do not remove it, in the spring your plant will not have a very beautiful appearance.
The advice of experienced gardeners: if you are not aware of which group the liana belongs to, cut the branches, leaving 40-50 cm above the ground.
Clematis: preparing for winter
Clematis is divided into 3 groups, each of which has its own nuances in pruning.
First group
Such creepers bloom on the shoots of the last year. When pruning, the branches of such vines should be kept, leaving 1-1.5 m. Here the length of the vines will depend on you. Choosing such vines for your garden, pay your attention to the winter hardiness of the plant. Often on the fences in the gardens you can see clematis "princes", for example, Pink Flamingo.
Clematis of the 1st group should be earthed to a height of 35-40 cm. This must be done in order to protect the plant from death in severe frosty winters. The bush will be able to recover and grow back from the root neck in case of severe frost.
Second group
Such clematis bloom in late spring on branches that have wintered, and in the middle of summer - on young ones. Accordingly, the whips of such clematis must also be preserved. More beautiful and larger flowers, as a rule, are formed on the branches of last year. This type includes varieties Andromeda, Lord Nevill and others.
How to cover clematis of the 2nd group?
Scourges are cut at a height of 1 meter, and can be a little longer if necessary. Leaves need to be cut. Liana needs to be removed from the support and try to unravel. This should be done carefully so as not to break the fragile branches.
The bush is spudled with earth, making a mound 30-40 cm high, as in the first case. The branches should be carefully laid with a ring on the knoll and sprinkled with dry foliage. Some gardeners cover rare varieties of clematis from above with lutrasil.
Third group
The most popular group among gardeners. These clematis bloom on the branches of the current year, which is why it is not necessary to save the lashes in the winter. Another plus of this group is that the plants are very unpretentious and bloom for a long time. This group includes Venosa Violacea, the popular Blue River - also of this type of clematis. Preparing for winter for this group is the simplest. Plants are cut at a height of 15-20 cm and simply spud with earth.
That's all clematis type care. Preparing for the winter of this plant, as you see, will not be difficult for you.