Clematis will not leave anyone indifferent. Gorgeous flowers of various shapes and colors bloom on their graceful legs from the beginning of June until the very cold weather. Depending on the variety, they can grow as a compact bush or spread like a liana up to 10 meters long.
These climbing plants come from sultry Spain, so some gardeners fear that caring for them will be very difficult. Growing has its own characteristics, the most important of which are good choice places, timely feeding of clematis, correct pruning.
Fertilization when planting
Clematis can grow in one place for more than 30 years, so the land must be prepared very carefully before planting. The planting hole must be filled with humus (2 buckets), add 1 bucket of sand and peat, 0.5 liters of wood ash, 100 g each of superphosphate and complex mineral fertilizer. Clematis loves alkaline and neutral soil, so when planting, it is advisable to add a handful dolomite flour... Using fresh manure and sour peat can kill clematis.
Top dressing in the first year after spring planting not carried out. In the future, the amount of nutrients in the soil decreases, and the plant needs fertilization.
Alternating dressings for abundant flowering
The first feeding of clematis is carried out in May after the regrowth of the shoots. The second is during the budding period. Top dressing of clematis in spring stimulates their growth and development. At this time, the plant is in dire need of nitrogen. Any complex fertilizer with a high nitrogen content is suitable for this (it is marked with the letter N on the package). Further, the soil under the plant is spilled with milk of lime and mulched. To get a strong, abundantly flowering clematis, feeding should be carried out throughout the entire growing season of the plant, approximately 2 times a month.
During the summer, mineral supplements alternate with organic ones. For mineral dressings it is used Matchbox on a bucket of water. For organic - herbal infusion (1-2 l), bird droppings (1:15), or fermented slurry (1:10).
Since August, nitrate fertilizers have not been used; they are replaced by phosphorus. Its lack can cause browning of leaves, inhibition of the growth of roots and shoots. If in the spring potassium nitrate was used for dressing, or then in the second half of summer it is necessary to replace it with potassium sulfate. The shoots must be fully ripe so that the gardener gets a strong clematis ready for wintering by winter. Top dressing with phosphorus in September is carried out with the main dressing in the form of a simple or. However, an excess content of phosphorus in the soil can cause plants and provoke the incidence of chlorosis. To neutralize the effect of phosphates, ferrous sulfate is added to the soil every 2 weeks.
Good soil is the key to success
On well-aerated cultivated lands, the root spreads up to 1 m wide from the base of the bush and up to 80 cm deep, which allows the plant to choose from the soil minerals and trace elements that are missing for vital activity.
Correctly planted clematis, feeding of which is carried out competently and in full, always blooms profusely and tolerates winter well.
A special place in decorative design suburban areas are occupied by clematis. This is an amazingly beautiful liana plant with a variety colors, uniqueness of texture and shape, as well as a unique aroma.
Due to the large number different types clematis, this flower has become an almost indispensable element in landscape design, allowing you to transform the walls of a building, hedges, arches and bring brightness to the design of a garden or flower bed.
Clematis: a variety of species of the "noble buttercup"
Clematis belongs to the buttercup family, but they have a number of advantages over their "wild" relative and are used for beautification, decoration of gardens and suburban areas. Therefore, this flower is also called "noble buttercup". Clematis are successfully grown in temperate and subtropical climates, and middle stripe Russia - practically perfect option for their reproduction.
The variety of varieties of perennial loach is divided into several groups, based on their closest relative on the maternal line. Consider the seven main types of clematis:
In the vertical gardening of the garden, hundreds of clematis varieties take part, different from each other in color, texture of petals, length of shoots and some features in care.
Features of planting clematis
good planting material is the key to abundant and long-term flowering
In order for clematis long time pleased the hosts and guests garden plot its abundance bright flowers, you need to take care of the quality in advance planting material.
First of all, you need to decide how to plant clematis: seeds or ready-made seedlings.
In the first case, when buying seeds, it is important to consider the following points:
- at home, it is better to sow small-flowered clematis;
- flower seeds need stratification (ripe seeds are exposed to cold temperatures);
- when buying seeds, it is better to give preference to the products of reputable manufacturers supplying planting material for various horticultural crops;
- seeds harvested from their own plants should be stored in a dark place before planting.
Purchased clematis seedlings must meet the following requirements:
- the plants should not have mechanical damage, signs of disease or the presence of pests;
- high-quality planting material will have a well-developed root system (at least 5 roots);
- a plant purchased in the fall must have at least two developed shoots with buds, in the spring - one;
- it is better to buy seedlings in autumn no earlier than mid-September; in spring and summer, seedlings are sold less often;
- it is better to choose biennial plants with a closed root;
- seedlings of clematis obtained by grafting on wild species are not subject to sale;
- when buying, pay attention to the variety of the flower and the requirements for planting and caring for it.
selection and preparation of the optimal landing site
Clematis can grow in one place for more than 20 years, so choosing a site for planting them must be especially careful.
Curly flower loves the sun, which means it is better to plant it on the southern side of the site. The plant needs lighting for about 5-6 hours per day. For most varieties, this is one of the basic conditions. rapid flowering and active growth. Two-colored perennial varieties prefer to grow in partial shade.
Clematis are unpretentious to the composition of the soil. The only thing to consider is that they do not tolerate swampy, damp soil. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a site located on a small hill - this will save the plants from flooding in the spring.
It is necessary to equip supports for clematis, along which the plant will curl. This can be an arch, a nearby tree, trellises, a gazebo wall, or a stair rail. When choosing one or another support, one must remember that for the winter the branches of clematis will need to be removed and insulated, so the structure should not be too complicated. To decorate an intricate support, it is better to use clematis varieties that do not need a thorough pruning.
Do not plant clematis near country structures with corner roof to avoid rainwater drainage on the root collar of the plant. It is necessary to endure minimum distance half a meter
favorable landing time
In regions with a temperate climate (southern regions and the middle zone of Russia), clematis are planted in the fall - the first decade of September. The plant will have time to take root and overwinter safely.
If in the region frosts begin already with the onset of October ( northern regions), then the landing should be postponed to the spring, namely, to the end of April - the beginning of May. In this case, clematis will please with flowering only next year.
The exception is pot clematis from the age of three years, which have a fairly strong root system. These flowers are able to withstand low temperatures, so they can be planted for the winter.
planting process
Let's break down the process of planting clematis into the following stages:
After a while, it is advisable to plant low-growing flowers around the clematis, protecting the roots from excess light.
Highlights for clematis care
Majority garden plants need regular and careful care, and clematis is no exception. Planting and caring for perennial flower very interrelated: feeding, watering and pruning directly depend on the growing season of the plant.
flower care after planting
In the first year after planting, the plant cannot be fertilized abundantly, as this is fraught with damage or death of clematis.
In case of prolonged rainy weather, in order to prevent root rotting, you can sprinkle the root part of the trunk wood ash.
If there is a possibility of overdrying the soil, then it can be mulched with humus or moss - cover the area around the flower with material that allows air to pass through and regulates the moisture and temperature of the soil.
Copper solution or Strawberry Concentrate can be used as fertilizer for a young plant.
pruning, feeding and watering clematis
Attention to flowers will be the key to beauty personal plot and will provide profuse flowering clematis. Growing plants is impossible without knowing the rules for pruning, the frequency of fertilizing and watering rates.
The procedure for pruning clematis depends on the variety of decorative vines:
- The first group - flowers are formed on last year's shoots. They need pruning only with a strong growth of the bush. In autumn, before the onset of frost, old and weak shoots are cut off.
- The second group - pruning is carried out in two stages: in the spring, the flowering shoots of the last year are removed, in the fall, the weakest shoots are cut off.
- The third group - plants that give the main color from young shoots. Clematis is cut in the spring to the height of the first bud from ground level.
After cutting, clematis must be insulated by covering the remaining shoots with a layer of earth and peat. Sensitive varieties are covered with spruce branches, boards or roofing felt from above. This will protect the bark of the plant from freezing and excessive moisture ingress.
Top dressing of clematis should be carried out in the spring. You can water the plant with milk of lime (for 10 liters of water - 100 grams of slaked lime), a liquid solution of a mullein. Watering with a copper solution will be useful for flowering vines: 10 liters of water + 1 tbsp. spoon of copper.
Clematis give the most abundant flowering - the first seven years, since later, fertilizers and water do not reach the overgrown roots. Therefore, some amateur gardeners dig pipes into the ground (during planting) through which all the necessary nutrients.
Ornamental vines require regular watering - once every 7-10 days. Water should penetrate to a depth of 60-70 cm, but with normal irrigation, most of the water spreads over the surface. To solve this problem, around the bush, at a distance of 40 cm, ordinary flower pots, which are filled with water. Through the drainage hole, water gradually reaches the roots of clematis. This method helps to obtain large flowers even in plants over seven years old.
Breeding methods for clematis
To obtain planting material for clematis, reproduction can occur in different ways:
- vegetative (dividing the bush, reproduction by layering and cuttings);
- seeds (only acceptable for plants with small flowers).
The division of the bush can be carried out in the fifth or sixth year after planting. To do this, it is enough to dig out a bush and divide it into several parts. The advantage of this method is the rapid flowering of a new shrub, and main drawback- this is the likelihood of the bush not rooting and the transmission of diseases to it from the mother plant.
Most often, gardeners propagate clematis by cuttings. The method can be used in spring, autumn or even winter (lignified cuttings).
The second most popular breeding method for the "noble buttercup" is seed. Let's consider in order how to plant clematis with seeds:
The use of clematis in landscape design
Clematis take a worthy place in landscape design, due to their long, abundant and bright flowering. Most often they are used as vertical decoration.
The main options for using clematis in transforming the appearance of a garden plot and creating original compositions:
Clematis is a popular favorite, ready to delight the owners with beautiful flowering and intricate interweaving of vines. All the difficulties and nuances of caring for the "noble buttercup" are fully compensated for by the festive atmosphere created by these flowers in the garden.
In nature, there are more than 300 species of clematis, which pleases with its flowering from late spring to early autumn. The curly flower will become wonderful decoration any site, if you know how to feed clematis. There are a lot of dressings that must be applied in a certain period of time and in the required proportions.
Trace elements necessary for clematis
Fertilizer for clematis is recommended to alternate. Experts advise periodically changing mineral fertilizers to organic matter diluted to a liquid state. When introducing top dressing, you need to remember that the plant needs timely and sufficient watering... Since clematis do not tolerate supersaturation of nutrients in the soil, but they love water very much, fertilizers should be applied in small portions, after thoroughly shedding the soil.
Fertilizers and top dressing for clematis are applied only after watering.
Like most plants, clematis needs nitrogen, especially during the growth period, potassium, magnesium, iron and other trace elements. Therefore, all fertilization should be carried out at a certain period of the plant's life.
Fertilizers for clematis
Long and abundant flowering of clematis is not possible without the required amount nutrients, therefore, gardeners are advised to make a number of dressings, including not only industrial preparations, but also folk remedies.
If, even during the planting of young shoots of clematis, the soil was thoroughly fertilized, then you can forget about fertilizing for a whole year so as not to overload the soil. If preparatory work were not carried out, then you can start complementary foods almost immediately after planting.
The most common and effective species fertilizers are considered the following means:
Top dressing of clematis - when to start
Many gardeners know that a flowering vine, which is also distinguished by its decent size, spends a lot of energy during its active growth. Therefore, clematis, like no one else, needs timely fertilization. You need to start feeding even before the young sprout hits the ground.
Before planting, the soil must be thoroughly fertilized. For these purposes, nitrogenous fertilizers, as well as humus, are suitable. The soil should be prepared as much as possible so that the plant can strengthen the roots, start growing and set buds.
The very next year after planting, you can start spring feeding, continuing to flavor the ground until mid-autumn. In winter, clematis retires, so it does not need fertilization.
Important. If the land was not prepared before planting, then after planting clematis in the spring, you need to apply fertilizer in the fall so that the plant can calmly overwinter.
The soil where it is planned to plant clematis is fertilized even before planting.
Spring feeding of clematis
In the spring, long before flowering, it is necessary to start fertilizing the plant with organic substances. Since during this period clematis is actively growing and is already beginning to lay flower stalks, it needs a large number of nitrogen.
At the very beginning of spring, bird droppings or manure are introduced, which are bred, like all organic matter, in a ratio of one to ten. The resulting solution is poured into the root.
Urea diluted in water can also become an alternative to organic substances. To prepare the solution, it must be borne in mind that for each square meter soil accounts for no more than 20 grams of urea.
April is the time to apply the next top dressing under the root, as well as sprinkle the weaving stems. In this case, a solution is used as a fertilizer - a liter of water and 3 grams of urea. The only thing to remember is that spraying should be carried out in cloudy weather or in the evening, since all useful trace elements decompose in the light.
In May, clematis must be protected from soil acidification. For this, it is recommended to feed the plant with a lime solution, taking 150 grams of slaked lime per 10 liters of water.
In May, clematis are fed with a small amount of lime mortar.
In the spring, for lush bloom in the garden, they also use preparations with potassium and phosphorus. This should be done at the moment when the first buds begin to form. You can use complex mineral fertilizers, as well as a tincture of cow dung. All these funds are aimed at strengthening the immunity of clematis and at the formation of outlets.
Summer feeding of clematis
Starting in June, when the plant will already bloom, the quantity and quality of fertilizing must be calculated based on qualitative composition land. If the soil is fertile and has been additionally fertilized according to all the recommendations given, then you can apply complex fertilizers only a couple of times during the summer. Otherwise, the plant needs to be fertilized for all three months.
At the end of August, you need to add the phosphorus and potassium necessary for clematis. Potassium sulfate diluted in water is most effective. For 5 liters of liquid, no more than 15 grams of the substance is required.
Important. In the summer, once every 30 days, clematis must be sprayed with a solution boric acid and potassium permanganate. The manipulation should be carried out in the evening.
If the summer is rainy, then the plant must be protected from root decay. This will help wood ash, which is poured under the bush after each rain.
In rainy summers, a little wood ash is brought under the root of clematis.
Autumn feeding of clematis
Since mid-autumn, no fertilizers are added to the soil. The plant managed to gain useful substances during active growth, so they will be enough for clematis for a dormant period. The only thing that needs to be done is to cover the ground around the bush with wood ash. This is done in late September - early October in order to protect the plant in the fall before sheltering for the winter from excess moisture.
Experienced gardeners know that plants need not only medicinal fertilizers, but also preventive measures.
Therefore, below are useful tips from experienced gardeners:
- Copper sulfate should be used every season to prevent disease. They spill soil around the plant.
- To achieve abundant and long-lasting flowering, all feeding should be stopped with the appearance of the first flowers.
- To prevent the soil from acidifying, it is necessary to spill it with lime milk (solution) in the spring.
- Before applying any fertilizer, clematis must be thoroughly spilled.
- Using foliar feeding, there is a need to spray the leaves on both sides (top and bottom).
- In order for the plant to overwinter well, it must be covered before the onset of cold weather, having previously stopped all application of baits.
- In order for all the beneficial substances from the spray solution to be absorbed into the leaves, this procedure must be carried out in the evening or on a cloudy, but not rainy day.
- Clematis is good for the neighborhood with other plants. Therefore, this can be used to protect the plant roots from overheating. You can plant a lawn or low-growing flowers around the bush.
On video experienced florist tells how to feed clematis for lush flowering.
Compliance with the norms of fertilization and dressing is a guarantee that clematis will delight with its flowering for many years.
To make your clematis "pleasing to the eye", you should adhere to simple rules for caring for this flower. Cultivation of clematis is quite simple: clematis needs watering, garter shoots, pruning, loosening and mulching the soil, and feeding. However, the right place for planting clematis plays one of the main roles in growing this flower.
As you know, for planting clematis it is worth choosing sunny or slightly shaded places. Clematis does not like drafts or blowing winds, therefore, when choosing a place to grow this plant, consider this feature.
If we talk about the soil, then clematis needs a well-fertilized, loose, light, moisture-permeable, non-acidic, fertile soil. However, no matter how fertile the soil is, clematis will need feeding.
Because clematis blooms profusely and for a long time and annually renews almost all its shoots and leaves, then, naturally, it needs strength and energy - nutrients for this. That is why it is so important to know what fertilizer clematis needs and when it is best to fertilize.
Top dressing of clematis
Already starting from the end of May - beginning of June (during the period of active growth of clematis), clematis needs not only weeding, loosening and garter vines, but also feeding. Most often during this period, gardeners use urea to feed clematis, mortar, or liquid manure.
When clematis has not bloomed yet, but only plans to do it, it is worth taking care of the second feeding of the plant. During this period, clematis can be fed with such fertilizer as Agricola-7 (1 tablespoon of this drug + potassium sulfate is diluted in a 10-liter bucket of water).
During the period of lush flowering, clematis needs not only abundant watering, but also feeding. During the flowering period, clematis is best fed with mineral fertilizers or liquid manure.
In August clematis most often they start to get sick, which is why during this period their health should be closely monitored. For better "well-being" clematis can be fed with mineral fertilizers and ash. Ash not only promotes the ripening of vines, but also improves the winter hardiness of flowers.
When clematis is fading, it needs the following feeding: the same preparation Agricola-7 or Flower can be diluted into 10 liters of water. And when the growth of clematis comes to an end, it can be fed with Agricola for flowering plants+ superphosphate and potassium sulfate (two tablespoons of Agricola + one tablespoon each of superphosphate and sulfate).
Preparing clematis for winter
At the end of September, the feeding of clematis stops and the preparation of the plant for winter begins. It is during this period that clematis can be transplanted to a "safer" place, if initially you made a mistake. In September, clematis care consists in loosening the soil and weeding.
Clematis requires pruning in mid-autumn. Pruning should be done very carefully and carefully. Make sure that the root collar of the plant is underground. If it is on the surface, sprinkle it with humus. When the air temperature begins to drop, the clematis will need to be covered. This can be done with dry peat or humus.
As for the wintering of clematis, it is still better to cover the clematis than to leave it under a layer of snow. An excellent "insulation" for clematis will be crushed polystyrene, brushwood or dry leaves. So that your "blanket" for clematis is not "caked" under a layer of snow, it is worth building a kind of rigid frame. For this purpose, the usual wooden box.
So, clematis are covered with a drainage layer, covered with a wooden box and waterproof material (polyethylene or the like, but with holes for air), sprinkled with earth (a layer of at least 30 cm).
In the spring, the shelter from clematis is removed gradually, in several steps. To begin with, a layer of snow is removed, later it makes holes for ventilation, and the polyethylene is removed completely only when the threat of frost has passed. The drainage layer (dry leaves) is also removed gradually so that the plant gets used to the coolness and sun.
Initially, clematis (they are also called clematis) began to be cultivated in Japan, then in Western Europe, after which, due to their beauty, they spread throughout the northern hemisphere. On the this moment exist more than 370 varieties and varieties which are registered by the Horticultural Society of Great Britain.
The varieties are divided into simple, double, semi-double. The former have one row of petals, the latter have two or three circles, and the third have more than three. There are two-colored varieties, in which the outer sepals differ in color and shape from the inner ones. Varieties are divided into large and small. In large clematis sepal diameter up to 15 cm, in small ones - up to 5 cm.
In the process of growth, the species forms a vine, which can reach a height of 3 m. They are often decorated with arches or mesh fences.
Vines need to be propagated by layering, since when seed reproduction they don't save varietal characteristics and quickly degenerate. They prefer acidic soils, where the pH can drop to 4.0. For some varieties, neutral or alkaline soils are preferable - this should be checked when purchasing seedlings.
Top dressing of clematis in summer and caring for them
In summer, clematis, like other plants, requires the whole range of nutrients: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Nitrogen promotes green mass, potassium is responsible for abundant flowering, and phosphorus supports the root system and is responsible for plant immunity. Suitable for feeding clematis in summer as organic substances - manure, ash, phosphorite or bone meal, green fertilizers, and mineral - urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
Particular attention should be paid to the choice of a landing site. This place should not be arid, as if there is a lack of water, the flowers will be small. Watering is required 3 times a week in hot weather - carried out in the evening, while the leaves are also irrigated with water.
Fertilizers for clematis are applied after abundant watering in liquid form. Top dressing of clematis for abundant flowering should be carried out at the stage of bud formation. This will strengthen the plant and provide an opportunity to accumulate nutrients for the entire flowering period.
How to feed young clematis:
- At the time of landing- rotted manure in the hole and superphosphate for the roots.
- After two months watering with green fertilizer.
- Top dressing of clematis in August-September superphosphate before wintering.
Video: What is needed for abundant flowering of clematis
How to feed old clematis summer:
- In the spring, when the snow begins to melt, pour a handful of urea or ammonium nitrate around the roots.
- In 3 weeks pour a solution of complete mineral fertilizer.
- After another 2 weeks- a solution of manure or chicken droppings.
- During flowering- potassium sulfate at the root.
- Towards the end of summer- potassium and phosphorus.
- After flowering clematis are fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer.
To prevent nematodes from growing in the roots, wormwood, marigolds or calendula are planted around clematis
Preparing for winter and pruning vines
How to feed clematis in the fall, so as not to cause the growth of greenery - there are two options:
- furnace ash containing potassium and phosphorus- everything you need for roots and buds for the next year;
- bone flour- a long-lasting source of calcium and phosphorus, after which phosphorus nutrition with mineral potassium can be omitted for 3 years.
Fertilizers for clematis are applied dry in the fall, since the plant will not actively accumulate nutrients in winter. By spring, soil microorganisms will process minerals and in spring they will be available to plants.
The more important exercise is pruning. You need to know which variety of flowers grow on last year's shoots, and which ones - on young growths.
If peduncles are formed on young shoots, then such a plant is completely cut off for the winter, leaving 2 - 3 internodes, which are covered with a layer of insulation. To prevent the mulch from being blown away by the wind, you can put a wooden box on top. If flowering begins on old shoots, then you need to leave about 1.5 m in height, cut off the rest.
All types of clematis need to be sheltered for wintering, since they are afraid of frost, and the quality of flowering will depend on the safety of the shoots. After pruning, the branches are laid on the soil, pressed with staples and covered with mulch - sawdust, leaves. In especially cold regions, a covering material is used for gardeners.
Carefully! In the spring, it is important to open the vines in time so that they do not evaporate under mulch or covering cloth. Due to untimely airing, many plants reduce flowering characteristics or begin to get sick with fungus.
Breeding clematis is best in winter. To do this, dig a groove from the mother bush, sprinkle with phosphorus fertilizer. One shoot is added dropwise and mulched.
Over the winter root system manages to germinate and in the spring will give new shoots up. After that, you can cut off the young seedling from the main bush. The plant does not tolerate transplantation, so transplant it as soon as possible to a permanent place. The distance between the bushes should be at least 2 meters so that they do not compete with each other for nutrients.