Question From: m. villa - MASSACHUSETTS
Q: my two clematis bloomed fine for the first two years. now they bloom too early, and not to prolifically. soon after, the leaves turn brown and the plants look dead from July on. There are one or two vines which retain their leaves but that's it. I just got two buckets of horse manure and am ready to put that on the base for winter. they get sun, face east and are climbing up the west side of our outside shower.
A:
Dead leaves on clematis usually mean one of two things. Lack of water is one and clematis wilt is another. Or could be both. Treating the plants with a fungicide such as Bonide's 3 and 1 Rose and Flower Care in spring may take care of the problem. Planting Clematis deep, a couple of inches deeper than the soil level in the pot, helps stave off this fungal disease. Regular watering will also help. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy.
