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Clematis Blue Angel lives up to its name. The petals of the plant have a delicate blue, slightly sparkling tint, so that the plant itself looks like a cloud during flowering. This liana will decorate any area with its appearance, making it more comfortable and elegant. Clematis is unpretentious, but knowing all the intricacies of agricultural technology will not be superfluous for those who decide to plant it.
Characteristics of the clematis variety Blue Angel
The homeland of the variety is Poland, where it was bred in the late eighties of the last century. The culture belongs to the late-flowering large-flowered clematis. Lianas are able to rise to a height of up to 4 m. Their stems are thin and curly. The leaves are bright green, trifoliate, opposite, with a wide asymmetrical plate. The roots are soft, fibrous, cord-like.
The flowers of the plant are blue, with 4 - 6 sepals 4 cm wide, 6 cm long, with wavy edges. Their diameter is up to 15 cm.In the center of the flower there are yellow-green stamens, which have no aroma. Flowering occurs on the shoots of the current year and is characterized as very abundant, lasting from July to September.
The Blue Angel variety is frost-resistant; the plant can withstand temperatures down to -34⁰oC. It is weakly susceptible to diseases.
Liana prefers sunny areas with little shade. The soil should be light, fertile, slightly alkaline or moderately acidic. As a support, you can use both special devices and natural ones - trees and shrubs.
Clematis Blue Angel pruning group
The variety belongs to the third pruning group. Clematis are distinguished by the fact that they flower on shoots grown in the current year. Autumn pruning is carried out thoroughly and is considered “strong”.
For the process you will need a disinfected knife and pruning shears. With their help, the shoots of the Blue Angel are cut off above the buds by 8 mm, leaving “stumps” 20 cm high. There is no need to worry about the fact that the entire bush is cut off. In spring, clematis will produce powerful growth and buds.
Another pruning option for Blue Angel clematis involves removing shoots “one at a time.” The method allows you to rejuvenate the bushes and distribute the flowers evenly throughout the vine.
Conditions for growing clematis Blue Angel
The result of growing a healthy plant depends on following several rules:
- The soil for clematis needs fertile, light soil;
- the liana does not like stagnant groundwater;
- the landing site should not be exposed to strong winds and drafts;
- vine roots love partial shade;
- the support for clematis must be durable;
- planting a plant with an open root system is carried out in spring and autumn;
- the closed root system allows them to be planted throughout the season;
- irrigation should be regular and plentiful, especially after planting;
- fertilizing is carried out several times a year;
- for successful wintering the plant requires reliable shelter;
- timely pruning allows you to preserve the vines and renew their shoots.
Planting and caring for clematis Blue Angel
Clematis, ready for spring planting, must have at least one shoot. For the seedling, dig a hole with a length, depth and width of 60 cm. Broken brick, crushed stone or perlite are poured onto the bottom for drainage. If the soil is not fertile, it is worth adding compost, peat and sand to the hole. It is useful to add superphosphate and dolomite flour. The soil mixture is poured onto the drainage in the form of a hill. A Blue Angel clematis seedling is placed vertically on top, straightened out its roots and filled in so that the neck is 10 cm below the soil surface. The hole should not be completely filled with soil mixture: about 10 cm should remain to the ground level. After planting the Blue Angel clematis, the surface around the plant is watered , mulch with peat. In the summer, soil is gradually added to the hole; by the end of the season it should be completely filled. When planting a group of clematis, maintain a distance between seedlings of at least 1 m. You must immediately install a strong and reliable support.
Further care consists of a number of activities:
- glaze;
- fertilizing;
- weeding and mulching;
- trimmings;
- shelters in preparation for wintering;
- protecting clematis from pests and diseases.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
The location for Blue Angel clematis should be chosen with special care. Areas with close groundwater are unsuitable for it.Meter-long clematis roots can reach the water horizon and rot. The soil should be tested for pH. It should be slightly alkaline or slightly acidic. Heavy or salty - also not suitable for decorative vines. If the soil is clayey, you should lighten it with sand.
Sunny places with protection from the wind and the possibility of shading are the best option for planting. The plant should not be allowed to overheat, especially its roots.
You should not identify Blue Angel clematis right next to walls, fences, or under a drop. It does not tolerate constant wetness of the foliage, and the soil directly next to the fences dries out and overheats.
Seedling preparation
Only healthy clematis seedlings that have at least one shoot and roots about 10 cm long are suitable for planting. They must be elastic and free from damage, swelling, and thickening. If the seedling is weak, it should be grown within a year in the school, and then assigned to a permanent place.
When cold weather does not allow planting, you can grow the vine for some time in a container on a windowsill or in a greenhouse.
Often the roots dry out during transportation. In this case, the plant is immersed in water for several hours. Treatment with a growth stimulator is recommended for better root formation. It is more advisable for novice gardeners to purchase Blue Angel clematis seedlings with a closed root system, which significantly increases the chance of the plant taking root in a short time.
Landing rules
When planting Blue Angel clematis, it is worth considering several nuances of this process:
- to protect against diseases, the roots should be disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
- to prevent mechanical damage, the shoots are tied to a support;
- in large-flowered clematis, the crown is pinched to form lateral shoots;
- It is useful to plant phlox, peonies, and marigolds near the vines to protect the roots from overheating;
- seedlings are planted on the south or south-west side of the site;
- Mulching the soil with sawdust in the southern regions and peat in the northern helps protect against heat.
Watering and fertilizing
The roots of Blue Angel clematis function normally if watering is carried out regularly and in sufficient quantities: twenty liters for each adult plant three times a week. In hot weather, watering is carried out more often. Young plants require water once every 10 days. To find out whether the vine needs watering, it is worth checking the condition of the soil at a depth of 20 cm. If it is dry, moisten it.
Water should penetrate to the depth of the roots (60 - 70 cm). If this does not happen, the flowers become smaller.
In the first year of the Blue Angel's life, you should not overuse feeding. During the growth period, clematis are given nitrogen fertilizers, budding - potassium, immediately after flowering - phosphorus. After pruning, before wintering, it is necessary to add mineral fertilizers to the soil.
Mulching and loosening
Soil aeration allows the root system of Blue Angel clematis to develop well. To do this, it is necessary to loosen after watering or rain to a depth of no more than 2 cm, otherwise the roots lying at a shallow depth can be damaged.
The loosening process is replaced by mulching with crushed bark and peat. Mulch applied before wintering protects the roots from freezing. Using straw may attract rodents. In this case, it is necessary to install bait for them.
Mulch retains moisture in the soil and attracts earthworms, which improve its structure.
The advantage of pine bark is its long life, since its decomposition period is 3 years.
Trimming
When growing clematis, several prunings are carried out:
- initial - it is carried out for any variety immediately after planting, leaving only 3 buds from below, removing the rest of the shoots;
- sanitary - when diseased, damaged shoots are cut out, the bush is thinned in order to form it;
- the main one is carried out according to the rules of the pruning group to which clematis belongs.
Blue angel belongs to the third group of pruning, which involves shortening all shoots to 30 cm from the ground in the fall, before wintering or early spring. The more buds left, the more abundant the flowering will be, but the flowers will be smaller.
Preparing for winter
Immediately after pruning the Blue Angel clematis, they begin to prepare it for wintering. For a vine, frost is not as bad as getting the root system wet. It is necessary to preserve the center of tillering to resume the growing season. You should not use sawdust for covering, as it cakes, freezes, and slowly thaws.
Clematis, which has been pruned in the third group, is not difficult to protect, since the shoots of the plant are short. It is enough to place spruce spruce branches, polystyrene foam and cover the vine on top with dry oak leaves, non-woven material, and plastic film. The looseness and breathability of the shelter prevents the clematis from rotting. Material for winter protection is used repeatedly over several years. In the spring, open it gradually, allowing the plant to get used to the spring sun.
Reproduction
Experts recommend the most reliable method of propagation for the Blue Angel - by dividing the bush. It is carried out for clematis at least five years old.For this purpose, without digging up the plant, separate part of it with a shovel and plant it as an independent plant.
When the roots are strongly intertwined, it is worth digging up the entire bush and dividing it into parts using a knife or pruning shears. It is necessary to ensure that all parts have buds. Further planting and care are carried out according to the same rules.
Diseases and pests
Clematis variety Blue Angel is disease resistant. If the rules of agricultural technology are violated, pathologies may occur:
- withering;
- powdery mildew;
- Alternaria;
- ascochyta;
- cylindrosporiosis.
Pests rarely attack clematis bushes. It is believed that spraying the leaves of the plant with cold water will protect against spider mites. During winter, voles can cause damage to Blue Angel shoots. Wrapping the plant with a fine mesh net, as well as bait to kill rodents, will help protect them.
Conclusion
Clematis Blue Angel is an unpretentious vine, caring for which is not difficult. Its annual rapid growth and flowering delight any gardener. For this reason, the variety has long become popular among amateur gardeners.
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