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Mixing clematis - pic attached

steven.g.garnersteven.g.garner Posts: 131
in Plants
Hello all! I planted a clematis Montana, and a clematis avalanche in April. They are both doing very well, with the Montana growing so fast!

i am considering training the Montana into the trellis along with the avalanche. Is this a good / bad idea? We do tend to get a bit of black fly on the avalanche but nothing too bad.


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  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,838
    Both of those trellis panels are way too small for those clematis.

    Your montana will want to get enormous and will swamp the Avalanche before it gets to its 3 to 5m spread so I would stretch tensioned wires horizontally at 30cms intervals across all your fence posts to the left and right but not between them then train the clematis away from each other for a year or two before adding more wires or trellis and letting them mingle.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • steven.g.garnersteven.g.garner Posts: 131
    Ah great! @Obelixx That’s helpful. I had used those smaller trellis as we had them available (lockdown!) but soon realised they may not be big enough! My resistance from wires is that we don’t own that fence side, so if the neighbours remove I’ll lose my plants, or are they ok to unhook? 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,838
    How likely are the neighbours to remove the fence?  Is it looking like it needs replacing?

    One way round it would be to erect your own posts just inside the fence and stretch the wires between them.  Then your clematis will have that bit more air flow around them and your neighbours' fence will not be a problem.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • steven.g.garnersteven.g.garner Posts: 131
    @Obelixx the fence is tongue and groove and a year old, so I reckon I’m good for a while!
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,838
    Ok then but it would be polite to ask if it's OK for you to screw vine eyes into their posts in order to pass through the wires and then tension them at the ends.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • steven.g.garnersteven.g.garner Posts: 131
    Hi @Obelixx I’m going to tackle this today, is netting also an option? 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,838
    Personally I think netting and clems are a nightmare combination.   The weight of the clematis will make the netting sag and be hard to fix.   Go for the wires and tensioners and vine screws - much stronger, cheaper, very unobtrusive and far easier to wind and train the clematis stems.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • steven.g.garnersteven.g.garner Posts: 131
    Thanks again @Obelixx I actually ordered some turnbuckles and 3mm steel cable, it arrived today but it seems WAY too heavy duty and I need some sort of crimping tool to make a loop on the steel rope :( When you mentioned tensioning etc, what should I use? Is just some thin galvanised wire wrapped manually around vine eyes right? Thanks again 
  • Mike AllenMike Allen Posts: 208
    Hi Steven.
    Our friend Obelixx has provided you with so much sound advice.  In particular, if I may.  When fences enter the equation then it is often wise to stop and think.
  • steven.g.garnersteven.g.garner Posts: 131
    Hi @Mike Allen -  I have just asked for a little more advice re type of tensioners / wire etc. 
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