Clematis bring a unique charm to the garden. They come in many colors, shapes and sizes, and their flowers are pleasing to the eye for a long time. Some varieties of clematis are fully frost-resistant, which means that they will survive the winter in our climate without problems. However, it is better to protect these delicate plants from frost so that they can please us again in the spring with their fresh flowers. How to overwinter clematis in the garden and in pots? Find out what you need to do to survive the winter in good shape.
How to overwinter clematis in the garden?
- The clematis pleases with its large, simple flowers that have a wide range of colors.
Among the clematis, there are frost-resistant varieties, but experienced gardeners advise that you protect the plants before the arrival of frost. This way you will protect their roots and dormant buds from frost (it is worth knowing that varieties that bloom in spring already set flower buds in the previous year). How to protect clematis in the garden?
- First, remove fallen leaves around the plants.
Fungal spores and pests can overwinter in them.
- Then mulch the soil around the clematis with a layer of pine bark or sawdust in a radius of 40 to 80 cm.
- Create a mound up to 15 cm high at the base of the plants.
This will help protect the roots from frost, especially during snowless winters and cold days. In addition, mulch helps maintain soil moisture and adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes.
- The ideal time to protect clematis in the garden is the end of November or the beginning of December (when the daily temperature drops below -5 degrees Celsius).
Gardeners do not recommend separating clematis shoots from supports, as they can easily break or be damaged. In addition, it is not recommended to cut clematis in late autumn, as this reduces the resistance of the shoots to frost.
- Cutting clematis is best done in late winter or early spring.
- However, if the shoots freeze (in the case of a very hard winter), they should be cut at the beginning of the growing season.
The plants will grow from the lower dormant buds that you have sufficiently protected.
- Some gardeners protect clematis for the winter by wrapping it in protective material.
Most often, they use agrotextile, which protects vines from adverse weather conditions (e.g. frost or wind).
- The underground parts of the plants can also be covered with straw.
Wintering clematis in pots
- Even clematis grown in containers need proper care before winter.
Otherwise, their roots may freeze because they are more sensitive to frost than the shoots.
- You can move the pots with plants to an unheated room with a temperature of 0-5 degrees C.
They can be placed in a garage, cellar or greenhouse. They must not be kept in the house, as they are among the plants that must go into hibernation.
- Some people recommend potting clematis in the garden so that the base of the plant is 5cm below the surface of the soil (this helps protect the buds at the base).
Clematis in pots can also be grown outdoors (e.g. on a balcony or terrace).
- However, do not forget to cover the container from all sides with insulating material.
- You can place the flower pots on a thick polystyrene board and cover them with polystyrene.
In addition, they can be placed in a cardboard box and then filled with, for example, sawdust, crushed polystyrene or bale filler.
- It is recommended to pile a thick layer of pine bark on top.
- The above-ground part can also be covered with agrotextile or a pile of branches or straw.
Protected in this way, clematis will survive the winter and reward you with lush flowering.
The clematis is full of flowers. It was enough to replace conditioners with home remedies