Content
Clematis Sunset is a perennial, flowering vine. In spring, bright red flowers bloom on the plant, which last until the first frost. The plant is suitable for vertical cultivation. Powerful and flexible stems easily and in a short time will create a green wall, strewn with bright large flowers.
Description of Clematis Sunset
Clematis Sunset is a perennial, large-flowered hybrid. In regions with a warm climate, the loach reaches 3 m. The flexible, but strong stem is covered with dark green foliage, small in size. 2 times a year, large flowers bloom on the liana, up to 15 cm in diameter. Golden stamens are surrounded by deep pink sepals with a bright purple stripe in the center. The first flowering begins in early summer on last year's stems, the second - in early autumn on the shoots of the current year.
With proper autumn pruning, an adult plant tolerates severe frosts well. In winters with little snow, young shoots may freeze, but in spring the plant quickly recovers.
Clematis Sunset Pruning Group
Hybrid Clematis Sunset belongs to the 2nd pruning group - flowers appear on the vine 2 times a year. This combined flowering pattern requires a two-stage pruning. The first pruning is carried out after the first flowering, removing old shoots along with the seedlings. This will allow young shoots to grow stronger and show new, abundant flowering.
The second pruning is carried out in the fall, before frost. All shoots are cut to ½ the length, leaving a vine 50-100 cm long.
Planting and caring for Sunset Clematis
Hybrid Clematis Sunset is a perennial, unpretentious, large-flowered variety. Planting time depends on the purchased seedling. If the seedling is purchased in a pot, then it can be planted throughout the growing season. If the seedling has open roots, it is better to plant it in the spring before bud break.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
In order for clematis to show itself in all its glory, it is necessary to choose the right place for planting. Clematis Sunset is grown in a well-lit area, since in the shade, the flowering will not be lush and not bright. It is also necessary to choose an area that is protected from drafts. Strong, gusty winds can easily break flexible, fragile shoots.
The soil for planting should be well-drained, light, with neutral or weak acidity. On acidified, highly moistened soil, the plant will stop developing and die. Therefore, with the surface occurrence of groundwater, Clematis Sunset is located on a hill so that the spring melt water does not lead to decay of the root system.
If the soil is clayey and depleted, then it is necessary to carry out the following manipulations:
- When digging a planting hole, the excavated soil is mixed with rotted compost, sand and peat in a 1: 1: 1 ratio.
- 250 g of wood ash and 100 g of complex mineral fertilizers are added to the finished earthen mixture.
- If the soil is acidified, then 100 g of slaked lime or dolomite flour is added to it.
Seedling preparation
A clematis seedling of the Sunset variety is best purchased in a nursery from trusted suppliers. It is advisable to buy the plant at the age of 2-3 years. He must have a developed root system and 2 strong shoots.
If the roots of the plant have dried out before planting, you should put Clematis Sunset in warm water for 3 hours with the addition of a root formation stimulant.
Before purchasing a Sunset clematis seedling for planting in a summer cottage, you must first familiarize yourself with the description, planting and care rules.
Landing rules
To grow a beautiful, healthy and lush plant, you must follow the planting rules. Step-by-step instructions for planting a clematis Sunset seedling:
- Dig a planting hole measuring 70x70 cm.
- A 15-centimeter layer of drainage is laid on the bottom (broken brick, pebbles, small expanded clay).
- The hole is covered with nutritious soil and carefully tamped.
- A depression is made in the soil the size of the root system.
- The seedling is carefully removed from the pot with a lump of earth and placed in the prepared hole.
- The voids are filled with earth, compacting each layer.
- In a properly planted plant, the root collar should be deepened by 8-10 cm.
- A support is installed to which the planted seedling is tied.
- The planted plant is spilled abundantly, the soil around the trunk circle is mulched.
For this, stunted perennial and annual flowers are planted nearby. The best neighbors will be marigolds and calendula. These flowers will not only save the soil from drying out and sunburn, but also protect Sunset from insect pests.
Watering and feeding
Since the perennial clematis Sunset loves moist soil without stagnant water, watering should be regular. In a dry, hot summer, irrigation is carried out 2-3 times a week so that moisture saturates the soil to a depth of 30 cm. At least 10 liters of water are spent on a young plant, and 20-30 liters for an adult bush.
Lush and beautiful flowering cannot be achieved on depleted soil. The first top dressing is applied 2 years after planting the seedling, 3-4 times a season:
- during the period of active growth - nitrogenous fertilizers;
- during the formation of buds - phosphorus feeding;
- after flowering - potash fertilizers;
- 2 weeks before the first frost - complex mineral fertilizers.
Mulching and loosening
After watering, the soil is superficially loosened and mulched. Sawdust, dry foliage, rotted humus are used as mulch. Mulch protects the roots from overheating, retains moisture, stops the growth of weeds and becomes an additional top dressing.
Pruning
Since Clematis Sunset belongs to the 2nd pruning group, it is pruned 2 times a season. The first pruning is done at the end of June, after flowering. To do this, last year's shoots are shortened by ½ the length.
Autumn pruning is carried out a month before the start of the first frost. Young shoots are shortened, leaving 2-4 well-developed buds, and weak, diseased branches are cut off under a stump.
Preparing for winter
Clematis Sunset is a frost-resistant plant. An adult liana, when grown in regions with an unstable climate, can overwinter without shelter. But in order to preserve young seedlings after pruning, they must be prepared for the coming frosts in 2 weeks. For this:
- The plant is spilled abundantly with warm, settled water.
- Liana is fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
- The near-trunk circle is piled up with sand and ash to a height of 15 cm.
- When the temperature drops to - 3 ° C, the trimmed liana is bent to the ground and covered with dry foliage or spruce branches, covered with a wooden box and covered with roofing material or agrofibre.
Reproduction
Clematis Sunset can be propagated by cuttings and branches. The seed method of propagation is not suitable, since with this method of propagation, the grown plant will not have a maternal resemblance.
Cuttings. Cuttings 5-7 cm long are cut in the fall from a healthy shoot. Each cutting should have 2-3 well-developed buds. The planting material is processed in a growth stimulator and buried 2-3 cm into light, moist soil at an acute angle. The container with cuttings is transferred to a cool room, where the temperature is kept within 0 ° C. At the beginning of spring, the container is installed in a warm, well-lit room. With regular watering, the first leaves on the cuttings appear in mid-March. So that the plant does not waste energy on the growth of green mass, the lower leaves must be removed. When the seedlings get stronger and form a powerful root system, they can be transplanted to a permanent place.
Offset propagation is the easiest and most effective way to propagate Clematis Sunset.
- In the fall, the strongest and healthiest shoot is chosen, which is located next to the ground.
- After removing the foliage, it is placed in a prepared trench to a depth of 5 cm so that the top is located above the ground.
- The shoot is covered with nutritious soil, spilled and mulched.
After a year, the branch will give roots and will be ready to separate from the mother bush.
Diseases and pests
Clematis Sunset is resistant to fungal diseases and is rarely invaded by insect pests. But if the agrotechnical rules are not followed, diseases often appear on Clematis Sunset, which can be identified from the photo.
- Wilt wilting... The first signs of the disease are wilted foliage at the tops of the stems. In case of untimely treatment, the plant dies. When the first signs are found, all shoots are cut to the root, and the near-stem circle is spilled with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- Leaf necrosis - fungal disease, often appears after flowering. The leaves are covered with a dark brown bloom, dry out and fall off. In order not to lose the plant, it is sprayed with a 1% solution of copper sulfate.
- Rust - orange-colored lumpy growths appear on the outside of the leaf. Without treatment, the foliage dries out and falls off, and the shoots are deformed and lose their elasticity. To combat the disease, the plant is treated with broad-spectrum fungicides.
- Nematodes - the pest affects the root system, which leads to the rapid death of the plant. It is impossible to save the vine, it is dug up and disposed of, and the earth is treated with boiling water or disinfectant solutions.
Conclusion
Clematis Sunset is a perennial, large-flowered vine that does not require careful care and shelter for the winter. In favorable conditions and with proper pruning, the variety blooms 2 times a season, in summer and autumn. Clematis Sunset is suitable for vertical landscaping. Thanks to the tall liana, you can decorate the unattractive places of the personal plot.
