I planted an hydrangea and a clematis along with a couple of daylillies last spring, as part of the memorial garden I made for my daughter's dog that passed away. The hydrangea was gorgeous all through the summer, flowering and re-flowering. The clematis didn't do much honestly, it grew just a bit, but no flowers. I had understood that clematis took a while to take hold anyway, so I didn't worry about it, just kept watering and fertilizing. But look at them now! Have I killed them?
Ronni, have you had a strong frost (32 or below for three or more hours?) It looks to me as if your clematis and hydrangea are simply going dormant.
MG Yes! It got unseasonably cold for this time of year a couple of weeks back....the temps got down to the 20's a couple of nights. If it's just dormancy I'm very relieved. Should I cut them back? Or at least the hydrangea?
Ronni, wait a while for the cutting back. There may still be live tissue in the stems, and it would be best to let nature take its course and let those stems die back naturally. Cut them back sometime in the first two weeks of December--that should be a safe time. If you encounter green in the stems, wait a week or two more. The cutting back is not as time-sensitive as pruning while plants are growing.
Don't cut them back. The stems are the central growth for next year. If you cut them back you may kill them inadvertently. Pull the leaves off if you want, but leave the rest.
Ronni, go with Carolyn's advice. It has been several years since I have grown hydrangeas or clematis, so I gave you poor advice. Thank heavens someone who knows more saved the day!
The flower buds on old wood for hydrengea so leave them for more flowers. If it gets really cold it can kill hydrengea back to the roots, and they just have to grow back. Ronni, you might want to check with a local nursery and see if you need to protect the hydrengea in your area in the winter. Mulch is the most common method of protection to keep the ground temperature more even at the roots and base of the plant.
MG I will. Carolyn, thank you. Jewell, I had to read that first line 5 times before I understood what you were saying.....I kept reading "buds" as a noun, so the sentence kept being incomplete and seemed nonsensical. It wasn't till I realized that you were using the word as a verb that the sentence made ANY sense whatever! Don't you LOVE the english language? The area around the hydrangea, clematis and daylily is mulched. I mulched lightly several times over the summer after I planted the plants. Is that what you mean?
I often write nonsense so you did really good figuring out what I meant. . A couple of years ago I had most of my hydrengea killed to the ground because of a cold snap without snow cover. Extra mulch (a couple of inches) on the crown doesn't hurt as long as you pull it back in the spring before things start to leaf out. If there is a chance of the temps getting into the teens you might want to provide a little extra protection. Good luck, and you are quit clever to figure out my ramblings.
Ronni--do you know which pruning type your clematis is? Some you are supposed to cut back to the ground, some you are supposed to cut 1/2 way back, etc. I always remove the dead leaves & dispose off the property as clematis wilt is a problem in my area. Good luck with your lovely plants!
