Clematis - preparation for winter

Clematis refers to those plants that are most often used for planting a vertical type . His flowers are the ideal solution for decorative country gardening. A clematis bush planted in a suitable place can delight you with a fragrance and beautiful inflorescences for 20 years. In this case, it refers to unpretentious plants. Freezing can be the only problem. To avoid this, it is necessary to prepare clematis for winter. That is why the choice of a variety should be carried out reasonably, taking into account natural conditions. For example, for the middle zone of Russia, the most suitable are early and medium-early varieties. They are characterized by the fact that flowering occurs on the increments of the current year. And some varieties, even without shelter, will freely transfer the wintering, because they blossom on last year's shoots.

Agrotechnical methods

Some agrotechnical measures help to prepare clematis for winter (both early and late varieties). Firstly, when planting, the plant needs to be deepened into the soil so that its tillering node is submerged 10-12 centimeters below the edge of the depression. Secondly, during the vegetation period, the use of nitrogen fertilizing should be limited, and beginning in September, the bushes should be fertilized with phosphorus and potassium-containing preparations.

Most clematis species need to be cut off for the winter. This measure on plants that bloom on last year's shoots is used to thin them. These varieties need to maintain the growth of the current year, so for the winter for clematis it is necessary to create shelter from frosts. Those bushes that bloom on both growth and last year's shoots need double pruning (after each flowering). The top of the shoot, which has faded, is cut by a third, and shoots are removed from the supports and covered for winter. Crop for the winter clematis, blooming exclusively on growth, is slightly different, since shoots must be cut completely, leaving one - two pairs of kidneys above ground level. In general, there are no problems with how to trim clematis for the winter.

Wintering clematis

Before covering the clematis for the winter, it is necessary to treat it and the soil at the base of the bush with a foundation, pollinate with wood ash, and then bite with weathered peat, compost or humus. This will protect the plant from fungal diseases. When the temperature in the street is about 5-7 degrees below zero, it's time to start preparing the shelter. To care for clematis for the winter, choose an air-dry type of shelter, which prevents rotting of the roots. Optimum variant of a heater - brushwood, dry foliage, lapnik. Some gardeners use even ordinary polystyrene. Its advantage is that in time, unlike natural materials, the foam does not cake. And this means that the thickness of the insulation layer remains unchanged. If you stopped on the foliage or berger, take care of the wooden frame or shield from the grape vines. The fact is that under the pressure of snow the thickness of the insulation will decrease with time, which can cause the clematis to freeze. Take into account that under the shelter will be comfortable not only the plant, but also rodents, so for pests it is necessary to prepare baits with poison.

So, how to keep clematis in winter? Cropped plants, sprinkle with a heater, and from above cover the bush with a wooden shield covered with waterproof material. Then sprinkle a 20-centimeter layer of peat or earth. For several clematis bushes growing nearby, you can build a common shelter on the same principle.

In spring, the shelter is removed layer by layer, since frosts can return. In addition, the clematis needs time for adaptation. If the plant is still frozen, do not rush to get rid of it. In a few years it can recover.