More help with Clematis

[Peek]

When we can finally get some new fence panels for our back garden, I'd like to take the opportunity to move a clematis that could do with a bit more sun than it gets at present. It will be on the same side of the garden, but I just want to shift it along the border, about 6 feet or so.

My question is, will it survive a move?

We've had it in the ground for at least 12 years, and I've always felt that it was not reaching it's full potential there.

[Lucy Lastic]

peek said:

When we can finally get some new fence panels for our back garden, I'd like to take the opportunity to move a clematis that could do with a bit more sun than it gets at present. It will be on the same side of the garden, but I just want to shift it along the border, about 6 feet or so.

My question is, will it survive a move?

We've had it in the ground for at least 12 years, and I've always felt that it was not reaching it's full potential there.

What variety is your clematis?

[Peek]

It's a Nelly Moser, Lucy, and it really got thrashed in the high winds earlier in the year. All the foliage is at the bottom of the plant, and the top half of it is old wood , so I thought if I moved it, and get it supported properly on the new fence it might stand a chance.

[Lucy Lastic]

You can prune it back to where the foliage is, there should still be a lot of the original stem. Move it after all the blooms are finished and plant it to about 10cm above where the ground level was before. Give a good feed in early spring and also plenty support in it's new home. After that it's in the lap of the gods but if it's the same type of soil there's no good reason why it shouldn't settle in. You may not get so many blooms the first year after you move it.

Hope that helps

[Peek]

Thanks Lucy...the only problem with possible pruning is that the stems of the plant have bent over, which is why the foliage is at the bottom, so the woody part is actually in the middle of the stems.

I might bite the bullet and dig it up anyway, pot it on ( the soil in that part of the garden is not the best at the moment), and cut it back, as it's not terrifically huge and then see if it revives itself.

[Fi]

Peek, I've moved clematis all over the place and I've yet to see them complain. Wait until autumn, an then just put a load of good compost and/or manure at the bottom of the hole. Put soil on top of that so the roots are not in direct contact and bury the stems, as Lucy says, about 10cm deeper than they are now. At the same time prune it to about 20 cm above the new soil level. It will take a couple of years to settle in and then prune it fairly lightly each year in early spring to avoid it getting top heavy again.

[Lucy Lastic]

fi said:

Peek, I've moved clematis all over the place and I've yet to see them complain. Wait until autumn, an then just put a load of good compost and/or manure at the bottom of the hole. Put soil on top of that so the roots are not in direct contact and bury the stems, as Lucy says, about 10cm deeper than they are now. At the same time prune it to about 20 cm above the new soil level. It will take a couple of years to settle in and then prune it fairly lightly each year in early spring to avoid it getting top heavy again.

Yes, I find they nearly all move quite happily. If you're worried, take some cuttings off it before you move it but Nelly Moser is quite robust. In fact most clematis are, they're not as fragile as they look.

I posted a picture of my 'Bluebird' on the other clematis help thread. I planted it 6 weeks ago, it was about 3 feet high at that time. It's now nearly up to the roof and flowering despite the howling winds, torrential rain and cold weather - and it looks so dainty!