Please help me with this Clematis Montana Rubens

[karenlim]

Help me save my Clematis Montana Rubens please?

In it's glory days it looked like the last photo.

Due to having a new baby with no help, we neglected the garden for 2 years.

I've had time this year, but the whole plant was dead underneath and only had some sparse vines tangled with a mass of dead vines.

I then cut everything down in early May. Middle photos.

I had saw some healthy green leaves growing at the base so i hoped they would grow.

But the leaves are turning purple at the tips and edges. It's even spreading slowly day by day. I'm getting alarmed as it doesn't look healthy and it's the only leaves the plant has left... (First 3 photos)

Am i losing the plant? Can anyone tell me if i can still save it? Is it lack of sun? Lack of water? Are the hydrangeas in front causing the issues? Should i cut more the dead wood even at base?

Help! I would really want to save it if possible.

The plant is located on the east wall so it gets the afternoon sun. Location West Flanders Belgium.

TIA.

 

[Tetters]

Welcome to the forums @karenlim . Congratulations on having your new baby
You have given your clematis quite a hard prune, and so it will take a while for it to pick up again. Don't prune it any more now. The roots of this plant like to be in the shade, and the top likes the sunshine. More shrubs in front of this plant will help it as they will help to give shade where it's needed. The wall will be sucking up any moisture, and so lots of water early in the morning, or last thing in the evening would help it to get better. I think I would get some epsom salts and give your plant a treat.. just scatter some around the roots. Be patient, and leave it then, but keep the ground moist while it recovers. Good luck.

 

[karenlim]

Thank you for the advice, Tetters. Am happy to report that i saw new growth today! Will be getting the Epsom too!

 

[Tetters]

Karen, it's surprising how tough this plant can be, but if ever you are worried about this or any other plant in your garden, it is always a good idea to take a few cuttings. In case you're not sure about clematis cuttings, they are best done inter-nodal like this

Make the stem the right length so that you can push them gently into the compost so that the leaf rests on the surface. If you have no propagator, water thoroughly, and fix a plastic bag over the pot with an elastic band. Then when they root, you can pot them up, and know that if anything does go wrong, you have some back up.

 

[karenlim]

I will remember this tip, i can't believe i didn't think of backing up! Many thanks, Tetters.