We have a Clematis Montana growing up a trellis at the bottom of the
garden and was flowering well and looked nice, but since the recent wet
weather a lot of flowers have dropped.
Is this common and can I prolong the life of the flowers ?

What is the best way to dead head them

Thanks in advance.

Ady

Can't answer your question but my montana has a grand total of 6 flowers
this year!





"Ady" wrote in message
...
We have a Clematis Montana growing up a trellis at the bottom of the
garden and was flowering well and looked nice, but since the recent wet
weather a lot of flowers have dropped.
Is this common and can I prolong the life of the flowers ?

What is the best way to dead head them

Thanks in advance.

Ady

Can't answer your question but my montana has a grand total of 6 flowers
this year!

Unless you cut it back you will get fewer flowers each year.

Cut it hard back after it has finished flowering. Next years flowers will be
on the new growth it puts out this year. If it's a large montana then you
will be in for a treat next year.

--
Drakanthus.


(Spam filter: Include the word VB anywhere in the subject line or emails
will never reach me.)

I did. Last year I cut it right back after it had finished flowering, cut
it hard down almost to the base. It put on tremendous growth last summer
and I was looking forward to masses of flowers but, frustratingly, only got
six flowers. Perhaps next year will be better?




"Drakanthus" wrote in message
...
Can't answer your question but my montana has a grand total of 6 flowers
this year!

Unless you cut it back you will get fewer flowers each year.

Cut it hard back after it has finished flowering. Next years flowers will
be
on the new growth it puts out this year. If it's a large montana then you
will be in for a treat next year.

--
Drakanthus.


(Spam filter: Include the word VB anywhere in the subject line or emails
will never reach me.)

I must admit to not cutting mine back. Once the flowers have dropped I
just go around and snip off the dead bits. Then throughout the summer I
continually weave new growth into parts that are a little sparse.
Year after year more flowers have been produced.


Adrian Jones wrote:
I did. Last year I cut it right back after it had finished flowering, cut
it hard down almost to the base. It put on tremendous growth last summer
and I was looking forward to masses of flowers but, frustratingly, only got
six flowers. Perhaps next year will be better?

"Drakanthus" wrote in message ...
Can't answer your question but my montana has a grand total of 6 flowers
this year!

Unless you cut it back you will get fewer flowers each year.

Cut it hard back after it has finished flowering. Next years flowers will be
on the new growth it puts out this year. If it's a large montana then you
will be in for a treat next year.

Really? I thought the advantage of the early flowering montanas is
that you don't need to cut them back like you do other Clematis. I've
never pruned mine and this year they were completely smothered with
flowers.

This year's was the best display yet, but it is also the first spring
after the watering system went in - I wonder if all the extra water
last summer made any difference...

Bob

(Bob) wrote in message . com...

This year's was the best display yet

Aha, maybe you can advise me. I planted a montana early this year and
have seen a grand total of three tiny leaves which disappeared within
a couple of weeks of my noticing them. It was two twigs until mid
April and is now two twigs again. It's against a shady wall in quite
heavy, silty acid soil. Elsewhere is better drained but I wanted it
there. Should I risk lifting and moving whatever's left underground,
should I write it off as a dud or shall I wait and see what next year
brings? There's no new growth at all.
TIA
Katharine

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(Katharine Mill) wrote in message . com...
(Bob) wrote in message . com...

This year's was the best display yet

Aha, maybe you can advise me. I planted a montana early this year and
have seen a grand total of three tiny leaves which disappeared within
a couple of weeks of my noticing them. It was two twigs until mid
April and is now two twigs again. It's against a shady wall in quite
heavy, silty acid soil. Elsewhere is better drained but I wanted it
there. Should I risk lifting and moving whatever's left underground,
should I write it off as a dud or shall I wait and see what next year
brings? There's no new growth at all.
TIA
Katharine

It sounds like it's had it. Go and buy a new one now - they are still
in flower and you will be able to choose a nice strong healthy looking
one.

I bought one last month and it's already got two shoots to the top of
the fence!

Bob

(Bob) wrote in message . com...
(Katharine Mill) wrote in message . com...
(Bob) wrote in message . com...

It sounds like it's had it.


Sob. OK, chin up, back to the GC. Thanks for quick response :-)

Adrian Jones wrote in message ...
I did. Last year I cut it right back after it had finished flowering,
cut
it hard down almost to the base. It put on tremendous growth last
summer
and I was looking forward to masses of flowers but, frustratingly, only
got
six flowers. Perhaps next year will be better?




Montana is one of those that is usually NOT pruned, it certainly will
stop the flowering if you cut it back as it puts all its energy into
producing new growth and doesn't form the flower buds.

Mike
www.british-naturism.org.uk