Content
Despite the wide variety of perennial flowering plants, clematis Belle of Woking can become a real decoration of the garden. The luxury of its inflorescences leaves no one indifferent. In addition to beauty, the plant has a number of other advantages. You should get acquainted with the secrets of growing and caring for clematis in order to achieve maximum results.
Description of clematis Belle of Woking
The author of the variety is British breeder George Jackman. Together with his son, he received it in 1875 by crossing the already well-known Candida and Fortuna.
Belle of Woking is an early flowering large-flowered clematis. Its inflorescences are double, with 8 outer sepals up to 14 cm in diameter. The petals of the plant are pointed, gray-violet, metallic in color. Their color changes depending on the lighting.
As can be seen in the photo, clematis Belle of Woking is a vine-shaped plant with thin shoots up to 2.5 m long, thanks to which it is able to climb any support, clinging to it with its petioles.
The leaves of the crop are bright green, trifoliate, opposite.
The root system is fibrous and does not tolerate transplantation well.
The plant is frost-resistant, belongs to zones 4 - 9. Trimming group is the second.
The flowering of the crop begins in May, on last year's shoots. At this moment, the clematis flowers of Belle of Woking are densely double. At the end of July, a second wave of flowering is observed: at this moment the inflorescences are simple, they form on new shoots.
The plant is used to create hedges, decorate gazebos, pergolas. It is possible to give the vine any shape.
Conditions for growing clematis variety Belle of Woking
A well-lit place with the possibility of shading is suitable for the vine. The enemy of any clematis, including Belle of Woking, is the wind. The planting site should be slightly ventilated, without drafts. The soil is sandy loam or loamy, loose, well flavored with humus, with a slightly acidic or slightly alkaline reaction.
Double flowering of clematis requires two-stage pruning of the vine. During the first one, old shoots that have already faded are cut out. A second pruning is carried out in the fall. Young shoots of the Belle of Woking variety are shortened by a quarter to the first developed leaf. Some shoots should be removed completely. With such an event, next year's flowering will be uniform and abundant.
It is worth feeding the plant several times a season. Watering must be done regularly.
The support for the vine should not only be beautiful, but also reliable. If necessary, developing clematis shoots should be tied up.
The success of wintering depends on the reliability of the shelter and the correctness of its creation.
Planting and caring for clematis Belle of Woking
Clematis do not tolerate waterlogging or stagnation of moisture. If the groundwater is located high, the vines are planted on a mound.On heavy clay soils, they dig a hole with a length, width and depth of 70 cm, on light, sandy soils - 50 cm. In any case, at the bottom of the planting hole, drainage is arranged from broken bricks, expanded clay, and pebbles.
The best time to plant clematis Belle of Woking is April, but it is also possible to plant it in September. Plants with a closed root system are replanted from spring to autumn. For the pit you need a mixture of humus, peat, garden soil, sand in a ratio of 2:1:2:1. You can add 150 g of ash and 150 g of universal fertilizers.
A seedling is placed on a mound, its roots are straightened, sprinkled with soil mixture and watered. The tillering unit is placed 10 cm below the edge of the planting hole. The soil is mulched with peat. To reduce its overheating, it is worth planting calendula or lavender near the Belle of Woking clematis. Next you need to install the support.
In the first year, the seedling is watered abundantly. A three-year-old bush requires two buckets of water three times a week. After watering, it is necessary to mulch the soil with sawdust, peat, and humus. In the first two years, the root system grows; not many shoots are formed. It is better to pick off the flowers that appear at this time so that the bushes develop more actively. Feeding should be regular. Plants are responsive to them.
Preparing for winter
After the second pruning, clematis Belle of Woking is prepared for wintering. First of all, it is necessary to treat the shoots and soil at the base of the bushes with a foundation solution. At steady temperature -5 oIn dry weather, the plant is covered. For this purpose, frames are installed from boxes, panels, or from scraps of vines twisted into a club. Mouse baits are placed underneath them. Clematis is carefully removed from the support, placed on spruce branches, covered with boxes, shields, and leaves.From above, everything is covered with non-woven material or roofing felt. To avoid the plant getting wet, the shelter must be dry, with an air gap, with access for periodic ventilation. Several bushes can be provided with a single shelter. In winter, clematis is covered with snow, preventing it from being compressed under its weight.
In spring, the vine is opened gradually. First, the snow is removed, then ventilation is carried out and at positive temperatures the “protection” is removed, leaving light shading.
If wintering was unsuccessful, the plant died, do not throw it away. Even after 2 years, the roots can form new shoots.
Reproduction
Clematis Belle of Woking can be propagated in several ways.
Dividing the bush
The method is used for vines no older than 5 years. At a more mature age, the roots of the plant grow greatly and intertwine, and then it is difficult to separate part of them without damage.
The Belle of Woking clematis bush is dug up, carefully freed from the ground and cut with a knife or pruning shears. Each part should contain buds on the root collar. Landing is carried out in compliance with all rules.
By layering
In autumn, remove the leaves from the shoot until it reaches a well-developed bud. They place it in a groove on a layer of peat, cover it with it, compact it and cover it for the winter. In the spring, the cuttings are watered. With the appearance of sprouts, the soil is mulched. In autumn, rooted plants are transplanted to a permanent place.
Cuttings
In the spring, during budding, cuttings are prepared by cutting them at a height of 30 cm from the ground from 4-year-old plants. Planting material with one or two nodes takes root better. An oblique cut is made below it and a straight one above the node. The lower leaves of the cuttings are removed, the upper ones are made shorter. The bases are treated with a growth stimulator.Clematis cuttings from Belle of Woking are planted in separate containers with a prepared substrate consisting of sand, peat and humus in equal proportions. Further care consists of regular watering and spraying. For the winter, containers with young vines are covered with leaves and spruce branches. Planting takes place next summer.
Diseases and pests
Despite the ease of caring for clematis variety Belle of Woking, it is worth paying attention to its health, periodically inspecting the plant for signs of disease:
- Alternaria - gradually growing brown spots appear at the ends of the leaves;
- ascochyta blight is a fungal disease characterized by vague dark brown spots on stems and leaves;
- verticillium wilt - a fungal disease of clematis roots;
- powdery mildew - manifests itself as a white coating on the leaves;
- cylindrosporiosis is a fungal disease with yellow spots on the leaves with further drying.
To combat pathologies, affected shoots and leaves are removed and destroyed. The plant is treated with special preparations - Hom, Bordeaux mixture, Glyocladin, etc.
Pests of clematis include:
- nematodes - worms that settle in the tissues of the buds and leaves of the plant;
- fenestrated moth - its caterpillars cut leaves and roll them into tubes;
- moth is a caterpillar that feeds on a vine.
Pest control measures include manual collection and the use of insecticides.
Conclusion
Clematis Belle of Woking planted in the garden grows normally and blooms profusely. It feels good if the planting site meets all the rules and is regularly fertilized and watered.In order for the plant to become powerful and strong, it only needs a little help - and clematis will definitely bring joy to others.
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