Needed suggestions for Clematis project?

I have an old dark purple clematis that blooms in early summer planted around my light post. I put a wire cage around the post and the clematis just climbs right up. I don’t carefully prune I just hack it down to about 6 inches in the fall. It has survived my ignorance for years. Next year I would like to rework this bed. I’m going to build a wood trellis that would fit around the light and plant different clematis around it. The idea is to mix colors and bloom times. I would like to dig up and divide the purple one (can I do that) so I can put some around the trellis on different sides. This summer I bought a light lavender one can’t remember the name and can’t find the tag. Can you tell I’m a very organized person? ;} It is a large flower but slightly smaller than the darker purple and I do remember that the word Blue was part of the name. Although nameless it seemed to do well. With luck I will be able to propagate it so I can move some of those around to the other sides as well. I have never tried to do this so it is a long shot. I would like to add a fall blooming Clematis to the mix and maybe some others. I have been looking at the Sweet Autumn but would like some suggestions. The bed around the light post also has various spring bulbs. I plant annuals for summer and in the fall there are several Mums in orange, yellow and dark red. I’d really appreciate any suggestions you would have on the project as whole and also specific suggestions to varieties of Clematis to add to the project. I'm in Zone 6.Thanks to DG Clematis Form I have been reading about Clematis lately but basically " I’m clueless". Holly

1. You should not prune clematis in the fall. I don't know the reason, but supposedly by doing so, can cause premature decline of the plant. Also, 6 inches is too short. It should be about a foot or just above the the first or second leaf bud.

2. I've always been told not to disturb the roots, but my neighbor has divided clematis successfully. I'm guessing that by disturbing the roots, you'd put the plant back a bit. Usually newly planted clematis take about three years to settle in and produce the massive number of blooms that we all love to see.

3. Sweet Autumn is known to be invasive. I guess it's up to you whether you think that might be a problem or not.

4. Clematis like their heads in the sun and their feet in the shade just like lilies. I've used annuals, perennials and summer flowering bulbs like lilies to shade their roots. It's all a matter of preference what you use. However, I suggest not using spring bulbs unless they will be replaced by something else later on.

Holly,

If you want to dig up your old dark purple Clematis and divide it, do it NOW! As long as you can still work your soil, you can plant Clematis vines. The cold weather will not stress your newly divided vine, where as warmer temps may. Make sure to get as much of the root ball as possible and then cleanly divide it in half with a sharp knife or clippers. Prepare a generous hole augmented with compost, humus, and bone meal (for root development). Do NOT fertilize or cut back your Clematis until early Spring. Water when necessary or if Mother Nature does not provide it for you.

Please look in the PlantFiles. Sweet Autumn Clematis is NOT meant to be grown on a lamp post. It will swallow it whole! If you must grow this thug, give it a strong arbor or fence to climb on....but, don't say I didn't warn you!

I’ve been checking out the Clematis site. And pretty much discovered that I had been doing everything wrong. Some how this old Clematis of mine has been thriving despite my previous ignorance. When I originally planted it many years ago. I put it close to the black light post, which is concreted into the ground. I pretty much planted the Clematis right on top of the concrete very shallow. One thing I did do right was to keep plants in the bed around it. I have a lot of spring bulbs then I always plant Summer Annuals and follow up with Fall Chrysanthemum. The project is to completely replace the light post and add more electrical outlets both at the post and extend the electrical line to the Arbor. Which pretty much means that everything will have to come out of that bed. I was planning on starting it in May. I may have to rethink that. I knew that would disrupt the growing cycle but hadn’t really thought about how much of a shock that could be at that time of the year. I was going to build 4 trellises about 2 ft wide and 5 ft high to place around the post kind of a diamond pattern with the post in the center. I would like to plant 2 or three plants on each trellis. Picking varieties that would give me the longest bloom time. I have the dark purple and lighter lavender. I was interested in the Sweet Autumn only because I knew it flowered in the fall and thought the white would look nice with my fall mums. I did wonder if it might outgrow my design. But I definitely want a fall flowering Clematis. I don’t have a good picture of the Clematis to post but if you go to this site you can see it through the Arbor. Thank you both for several good suggestions and you have helped me consider some things I hadn’t. If you have more suggestions I certainly could use them. Thanks Holly

http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=2644316

If you are starting your project in May, you may want to wait until next Fall to plant your Clematis or faithfully water your newly planted Clematis vines all Summer so that they don't dry or get stressed out.

Viticellas (Group C) are all disease resistant, very hardy & Fall bloomers. http://chalkhillclematis.stores.yahoo.net/group-viticella-andrelatedforms.html

Quite a while ago I posted this thread asking for information on a Clematis project I was working out. Well a year and a half later. The project is finished. I have discovered that the old purple Clematis is The President and I picked up a few new ones from last years co-op. Two of the three I planted Multi Blue and Ramona are growing very happily up their trellises. I could use a suggestion for a Fall blooming Clematis that would not overpower the lamppost. Here is a picture of the finished project and a link to the thread that shows the whole project from start to finish. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/839411/#new

I just love your design..can't wait to see those Trellis beaming with your gorgeous Clematis!!...Jeanne

BEautiful Job. The design is really beautiful.

Your Clematis project turned out great! Can't wait until those Clematis start blooming!

Thanks everyone, I will post pics when they start flowering. I picked up a Snow Queen yesterday, There is still no sign of the venosa violacea I planted last fall. I'll give it another week and see. I loved the threads on Roses and Clematis so much that last summer I planted climbing roses on my split rail fence and added a few clematis to that as well.

I realized that I didn't get back here and post some of my blooming pictures. Here are a few for you. This is my old clematis and I believe it is The President.

This one was just put in this spring. Snow Queen

More The President

This is the Multi Blue that I picked up in last years co-op. It sat in a small pot all last summer and then transplanted into the bed last fall.

This one is a mystery, also from last years co-op. I had it tagged as Ramona but pretty sure that's not what it is. It comes out with this pretty dark color.

Then it starts to lighten up to this light lavender

Here is a recent shot of the whole bed. So far I'm pretty pleased with all the plantings. The spring bulbs looked good when they were done blooming I moved a few around and I have more to add this fall. I put in some perennials and annuals. I've have some sedums and asters just getting ready to start blooming soon. Looks like I should have a good display through out the seasons. You may notice that the stone wall in the background has been finished, also.

Each and every clematis is lovely and your photos are an early morning delight to look at. Well done!

Very pretty..and that one IS Ramona...Jeanne