Clematis for the winter, preparation: when to cut and how to cover, proper care

Clematis should be insulated for the winter, otherwise these plants will die from frost. Before shelter, the vines are cut, their stems are treated with disinfectants. Clematis is insulated with hilling, dry branches and artificial waterproof materials. Plants are afraid of severe frosts, but if they are not insulated for the weather, they can rot and rot.

Stages of preparing clematis for winter

Clematis are heat-loving liana plants that bloom in summer. In autumn, with the advent of cold weather, their life processes slow down. Clematis are preparing for hibernation.However, plants cannot do without human help. After all, these vines come from warm climatic zones, and in a frosty winter they can freeze and die.

Steps of preparation for the winter cold:

• pruning according to grade or group;
• treatment of stems and soil;
• warming shoots.

Depending on the variety or group, the branches of plants are cut by 10-20 centimeters or completely cut off, leaving stumps 20-30 centimeters high at the ground surface. Pruning is carried out from October to November.

Having cut off all unnecessary stems, the remaining branches are removed from the support, carefully twisted and laid near the root on the ground on a litter.

If in winter the air temperature drops below 5 degrees below zero, clematis should be covered from above. Plants in which all shoots are completely cut off are also insulated before the start of the winter cold.

Before covering clematis, bushes and the ground around them, it is desirable to treat with a solution of Fundazol (20 grams per 10 liters of water). The stem itself should be sprinkled high with soil mixed with sand, peat and wood ash. The clematis is then insulated with mulch and waterproof material.

Pruning clematis for the winter depending on the group

Plants are divided into 3 groups. Each type of clematis needs pruning before wintering. Branches must be properly cut. After all, the full development of vines and abundant flowering in the next season depends on this.

Pruning is sanitary, shaping and winter. Sanitary is the removal of dry and diseased branches from a he althy main stem. Formative - pruning excess shoots in order to improve development and prolong flowering. Winter pruning is carried out in order to prepare clematis for wintering and protect it from frost.

In September, dried leaves are slowly beginning to be removed from the stems, since they themselves do not fall off. After removing the leaves, the clematis sprigs are pruned. Pruning is carried out in late October and early November, in dry, calm weather.

Pruning clematis of the first group for the winter

Clematis of this variety bloom only on the shoots of the previous year. Minimum pruning is recommended for them. The upper branches of the vine are slightly shortened by 20 centimeters. The length of the stems is adjusted depending on the support to which they are attached. It is important to keep the old shoots, because they will bloom next season. During pruning for the winter, weak and dried stems are removed.

Pruning clematis of the second group for the winter

Clematis of this species at the beginning of summer bloom on old shoots, and at the end - on young ones.Medium pruning is recommended for them. Old branches are slightly shortened at a distance of 150 centimeters from the ground, young ones are not touched at all. More intensive pruning, aimed at rejuvenating the plant, is carried out every 5 years.

If the bush is only one year old, then before winter, its stem that has grown over the summer is greatly shortened, leaving a stem 30 centimeters long above the ground.

Pruning clematis of the third group for the winter

Clematis of this group bloom at the very end of summer, on young twigs that have grown in the current season. Before wintering, all the stems of the plant are completely cut off. They leave only low stems (30 centimeters above the ground) with three pairs of buds.

Universal Clematis Pruning

If gardeners cannot determine which group their clematis belongs to, universal pruning is recommended.In the first year of life, all types of vines are cut in the same way - the grown stems are completely cut off, leaving shoots 30 centimeters long with a pair of buds on them. If you remove young branches from a plant of the first year of life, then later it will grow stronger. Clematis will begin to bush, it will have side stems.

How universal pruning works:

• all stems are divided into 3 parts;
• the first part is cut at a distance of 30 centimeters from the ground;
• the second part is cut so that the stems are 1 meter long;
• the third part is not touched, only slightly shortened from above (by 10-20 centimeters).

In the new season, with the beginning of the growth and development of plants, you need to see which part will grow better, and then bloom. The next autumn pruning is recommended, taking into account the results of flowering stems cut in different ways.Bushes can be cut from time to time to various lengths. In this way, the plant will gradually rejuvenate.

Features of clematis shelter

Plants cover in early November. Shelter is carried out only after trimming and processing. Branches, spruce branches, bark, sawdust, artificial waterproof materials are used for shelter. On top of the insulation, you can pour a little earth or snow.

The insulation structure should be light so that the branches of the plant do not break under it. Clematis needs to be provided with air access, otherwise its stems will get wet and sweat. To do this, small holes are left on the sides of the shelter for ventilation.

First Years

In the first year, the stems are completely cut off, leaving stumps (with buds) 30 centimeters high near the ground. Such sprouts are highly spudded with earth mixed with sand, peat, sawdust and wood ash. From above, a low mound can be covered with agrofibre, lutrasil or roofing material.

Young Bush

Young stems are highly spudded, bent to the ground, laid on a dry spruce branch and wrapped on top with agrofiber. As a heater, you can use lutrasil or roofing felt. A wooden box can be placed above the plant.

White Clematis

Clianas that bloom on the shoots of the past and new years are usually removed from the support and slightly twisted. The stems are laid on a support of wooden bars. From above they are covered with dry sawdust or spruce branches. Then - with roofing material or lutrasil.

Small-flowered

If adult lianas are left on a support, then at the base of their stem they are highly spudded with earth. The plant itself is wrapped several times with agrofiber. Such material perfectly passes air and does not allow the plant to dry out.

Manchu

In this variety of clematis, all stems are removed before wintering, leaving stumps up to 20-30 centimeters high near the ground. Before the onset of frost, plants are completely sprinkled with a light earthen mixture (sand, peat, sawdust) and covered with roofing material.

How to prepare a clematis planting site for wintering

Bushes before winter should be treated with fungicides and sprinkled with earth with the addition of wood ash. This treatment will protect clematis from fungal diseases.

Treatment in the trunk circle

The land near clematis is treated with Fundazol. There are a lot of fungi and other microorganisms dangerous for the plant in the open ground. To destroy them, within a radius of 50 centimeters from the stem, the soil is watered with a disinfectant solution.

Soil disinfection

Not only fungicides, but also copper-containing preparations (copper sulfate) are used to cultivate the land and stem. It is advisable to use the following agents for soil disinfection: Fitosporin M, Fitop Flora S, Fundazol.

Soil hilling

The earth around the stem is loosened, a bucket of peat and sand, 200 grams of wood ash are added, and the stem is sprinkled with this mixture. If the shoots rise 30 centimeters above the surface, then they are completely covered with soil mixture.

For hilling into the ground, you can mix a little rotted humus. An organic supplement will not only protect the roots of the plant from freezing, but also provide them with nutrients. Hilling is carried out to a height of 30-40 centimeters.

Processing plants from pests

To control pests, the base of the stems before wintering can be painted with a solution of lime. For five liters of water, take 0.5 kilograms of quicklime. As a prophylaxis against pests, clematis can be sprayed with a Bordeaux mixture solution. The same preparation is used to irrigate the ground near the stem.

To fight rodents, baits, mechanical traps are installed near the vines, and the base of the stem is sprinkled with pepper.

How to unhook the vines from the support

The branches of the plant must be carefully removed from the support before winter. To do this, first, all dry leaves are removed from the stems, then the plants are untied from the support, and the shoots entangled behind the fence are cut off. By unhooking the clematis from the support, you can also prune the plant. The branches are slightly shortened during removal, leaving a stem at least 1.5 meters long.

In order to make it easier to take care of clematis in the fall, it is advisable to tie it to the support only on one side in the spring.

With this method, the branches are not twisted around the pipe, but only tied to it with ropes.

Methods of warming plants for the winter

It is advisable to insulate the bushes before wintering so that they do not freeze and do not rot. These creepers are afraid of frost and excess moisture. The shelter for the winter should provide air access, be warm, dry and not get wet.

Hilling

Clematis, which are completely cut off before wintering, leaving only low stumps, are spudded with earth mixed with peat and sand. Above the stems you need to make a high mound (from 30 to 60 centimeters).

Combination Shelter

Completely cut stems of plants can be insulated not only by hilling, but also covered with agrofiber or roofing felt. You can sprinkle an earthen mound with sawdust, dry branches, or place a wooden box above it.

Air cover method

Clematis, which blooms on last year's branches, is covered by air. The plant is spudded with earth, then removed from the support and rolled up. Dry twigs or spruce branches are placed under the bottom.

Metal or wooden arcs are installed above the liana, on which roofing material or agrofibre is pulled.

You can cover the plant with a wooden box, and sprinkle spruce branches on top. From above, this structure is covered with roofing material or agrofibre, leaving openings for ventilation on the sides. The main thing in this method of shelter is to leave air space between the branches and the protective insulation.

Shelter of individual bushes

In order to keep clematis in winter, individual bushes can be bent to the ground, laid on wooden slats or dry branches, covered with a box or roofing felt. Be sure to make holes for air ventilation.

Clematis group shelter

Growing in a row creepers can be insulated as a group. To do this, they are removed from the support, bent to the ground, laid on dry branches or spruce branches, and metal arcs are placed on top, on which roofing felt or agrofibre is pulled.

Reinforced insulation

To prepare for a harsh winter, creepers need to be thoroughly insulated. Plants are removed from the support, laid on a thick layer of spruce branches or dry sawdust. Metal arcs are installed on top, agrofibre is pulled, another layer of spruce branches is laid on top and again covered with roofing material. You can build a wooden structure over the shelter.

How to process clematis for the winter

Before wintering, the stems must be processed to protect them from pests. The most affordable drug is copper sulfate. A solution is prepared for processing: 50 grams of the substance is diluted in 5 liters of water. Immediately after preparation, the bush is sprayed with this product. Creepers are processed in dry, calm weather. This remedy will protect clematis from mold development in winter.

From fungal microorganisms, the vine will be protected by treatment with iron sulphate.Such a tool will additionally feed the bushes with iron trace elements. A solution is prepared for spraying: 30 grams of iron sulfate is dissolved in 10 liters of water. The stems of the plant are irrigated with liquid, a little mixture is poured under the root.

Caring for clematis in winter

In winter, it is advisable to constantly monitor how sheltered plants behave. If icing appears on the branches, they additionally need to be wrapped with a layer of warm reeds or straw, wrapped several times with agrofibre on top.

If the plant sweats, on the contrary, you need to remove the extra layer of shelter, ventilate the stem, wrap it with breathable material. In winter, more snow can be poured onto the structure, under it the plant will be warmer. During the thaw, you need to make sure that moisture does not accumulate near the stem, otherwise the clematis will swell and rot.

Different regions and clematis shelter

Each region has its own way of sheltering plants. In the southern latitudes, the bushes are only highly earthed, and in the northern regions they are insulated with sawdust, spruce branches, roofing felt, or wooden protective structures are made from above.

In the suburbs and the Middle Strip

In the Moscow region, clematis are insulated by hilling, and covered with agrofiber or roofing material on top. If the plants are removed from the support, it is laid on dry branches or spruce branches. Then a box or metal arcs are installed on top, on which agrofiber, lutrasil, film or roofing material are pulled.

In the Volga region

In the Volga region, when warming clematis for the winter, they make sure that they are not heated by water. To do this, special grooves are made to drain water, and high wooden slats are placed on the ground, on which the stems removed from the support are placed. Then the branches of plants are covered with roofing material or lutrasil.

In the Leningrad Region

Clematis are removed from the support, stacked on wooden slats, and then covered with agrofibre or roofing material. You can insulate clematis with spruce branches, and cover it with a wooden box wrapped in foil on top.

In the Urals and Siberia

In regions with cold frosty winters, clematis are thoroughly insulated. Plants are laid on spruce branches or sprinkled with sawdust, wrapped with agrofiber, wooden structures are installed on top. They are also wrapped in foil. Then the shelter is covered with a thick layer of snow.

Removing shelter in spring

With the onset of spring, when severe frosts pass, clematis slowly open. Shelter is gradually removed from April to May. Plants open during the day, in dry and sunny weather.

At first, clematis are only slightly opened for a couple of hours and allowed to bask in the sun, and again warmed at night.Plants need to be given time to adapt to new conditions. Then they remove the film, remove dry branches, lift the vine and tie it to a support. The last step is to remove the mulch from under the stem.

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