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Mysterious C. montana death
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Posted by garden_nerd UK Central (My Page) on Fri, May 5, 06 at 14:48
| I've got a large white Clematis montana growing over a fence (and a holly, and a pyracantha, and a leylandii...) which is showing no signs of growth whatsoever - in fact, shows every sign of being stone dead. It's about 12 years old, and I can't think of anything out of the ordinary that might have happened to it. I had a previous one in another spot that died, but I'm pretty sure that was dryness at the roots that did for it. Anyone got any ideas about what might have carried it off - and some creative ideas for a replacement? Ideally, I'd like something that would kill next door's over-enthusiastic leylandii seedling! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Mysterious C. montana death
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- Posted by pond Portsmouth, UK (My Page) on
Sat, May 6, 06 at 13:50
| Clematis wilt perhaps? If thats what did for it, don't plant another one there. I know it isn't terribly original but how about trying a honeysuckle instead, or if it is hot and sunny, jasmine. |
RE: Mysterious C. montana death
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| Hi GN. Hope you enjoyed your break. My montana Tetra Rose seems unstoppable. It's easily reached the top of a 20 foot conifer and is just about to erupt into a mass of pale pink blooms. I can't believe anything as robust would be affected by Clematis wilt. It's main stem is a good 2 inches thick. I think its roots must have gone down deep enough to find a constant supply of H2O. |
RE: Mysterious C. montana death
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| Yes, mine used to be like that! It's got a number of stems 4cm thick coming out of the base, so it was certainly well established. Now I suppose I'll have to spend hours dragging the dead remnants out of the holly tree. Groan. I thought the montanas never got clematis wilt, which is why they're easier to grow than the rest of the temperamental tribe. |
RE: Mysterious C. montana death
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| My mum's montana died of slime flux a few months ago - it happens if the stem gets damaged just before flowering, apparently. I only know this because I was mildly baffled at its demise, as it didn't look much like clematis wilt, and also montanas don't tend to get that.. I'd plant a Clematis alpina or something similar, maybe.. Let us know what you go for. :) Melanie |
RE: Mysterious C. montana death
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| Omigod! Slime flux! I certainly hope it's not contagious to humans, I think I'd rather have bird flu! I think it died during the winter - it was OK in the Autumn as far as I remember. The stem has probably been damaged at various times as I blunder carelessly about wielding blunt instruments, but there is no sign of any slime. I might transplant a young wisteria which is growing in a spot much too small for it, like so much else in my garden. Do they resent transplanting, and would I get away with doing it now? |
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