Clematis (^%$@#%&) vent - and UNVENT :)

[Ceashels]

As a Christmas gift last year, my Mother in Law (MIL) sent me a Jackmanni Clematis. She is the epitome of the flower and shrub, English Garden type of woman..... that means the opposite of me.

It arrived 2 days ago and is currently still in the box (opened) in the dining room.

WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?

In my research...

Full Sun... that we can do.

6-10 feet tall? So much for putting it in the small spot on a small trellis in front of the mail box! A decorative trellis isn't in the budget anyway right now.

We have ivy on the shady side of our backyard, do I want to put a flowering vine on the adjacent fence where it can have the sun requirements?

What!!! I got to feed it too?

I'm not willing to put it in the front beds since that is where my only veggie garden is this season... if/when I ever get it planted.

I am just so NOT the flower type.

So if anyone has clematis and can give me some tips I would greatly appreciate it. My only goal is to not kill it.

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So I stopped by Ollies and found a 4' tall metal obelisk for its home base. I weeded the mini bed, put on garden fabric to prevent them from growing back, planted, obelisked, watered and mulched.


Thank you all for the ideas and tips but mostly for the support. I hate flowers. lol


If the darn thing dies... it is it's own fault now.

[nuisance26]

~You can keep it trimmed down to 4 feet or so. My FIL never feeds or trims his, just sun, water and a support trellis. They don't spread like ivy does so it won't take over your other fence.~

[Russ]

The leaf/flower part gets full sun. You must keep the root in shade. Sounds difficult, doesn't it? It's not, just mulch the heck out of the root area.

As for a trellis... It doesn't "have" to be 10ft tall, a 6ft'r will do, the rest will hang over.

You are not alone in the anti-English garden category. I am totally not a fan of the prim and proper formal garden. I like the "throw it in the ground and be surprised" next year type gardener.

As for "not the flower type"... at least put some marigolds in your veggie garden.

[daughter of pearl]

Ceashels, I'm with you!

I have one houseplant. It was my mother's (she passed away 8 years ago). She had it for 15 years. My dad gave it to me five years ago.

I'm terrified of it. I check on it every day to make sure it hasn't died over night.

Good luck!

[Russ]

So much for putting it in the small spot on a small trellis in front of the mail box! .

Why not?

[Ceashels]

So do I just cut it back if it gets to big around the mail box?

[YankeeMom]

We have a clematis. Came with the house It seems to be very hardy. We don't have to do much with it at all. After we bought the house, we did clip it back some (it was completely covering one side of the porch). It's come back and now only comes over the railing. It's gorgeous in early summer.

[monkeywrangler71]

I had one that came with the old house, I never did a thing to it except chop it down every now and then when it was growing into the neighbour's yard. It was actually quite pretty, and in my yard very wild looking - I guess an overgrown, untended English garden look.

[Debbie-cat]

I love clematis! Russ is correct. Their feet (roots) need to be in the shade and the flowers in the sun. Once established they are hardy plants and you can trim them back.

Love the mailbox picture Russ!

[Contrary Housewife]

It won't get to be 6-10 ft high right away. Mine took 3 years to get established, and now at about 6 years old it is about 5 feet high. It vines, but is very easy to redirect. Mine doesn't get bushy, just goes straight up, so I don't see why it couldn't be in a bed with vegetables, against the house. I've never fed mine, but we do mulch the area mostly because I can't control the weeds in that spot otherwise.

[Missy]

So do I just cut it back if it gets to big around the mail box?

yep you can. that mailbox pic so pretty.

[ubumartin]

My neighbor gave me mine and it took several years for it to really come in good. I have it around my lamp post and last year I did not have good support and it weaved around my lamp post breaking off the lamp because it got too heavy. (my laziness!) I put a nice trellis for it this season. It is beautiful though and I am not a plant person either. It grows every year and I cut it down to the root about 4 inches in the fall. I also just split it and I will try to grow around my deck. I get so many compliments and I love to see how it comes back better every year. I think you will love it too. I have never fed it either.

[Ceashels]

Updated my initial post complete with pics of the mini garden. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart to the tips of my blistered fingers.

[Greebo]

Hmm. We definitely need to replace that ugly mailbox post.

[Ceashels]

Hmm. We definitely need to replace that ugly mailbox post.

Or we could just paint it cause I am not going to risk damaging my mini garden.