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Clematis Blue Angel lives up to its name. The petals of the plant have a delicate blue, slightly sparkling hue, so that the culture itself looks like a cloud during flowering. Such a liana will decorate any site with its appearance, make it more comfortable and elegant. Clematis is unpretentious, but knowing all the subtleties 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 late-flowering large-flowered clematis. Creepers are able to rise to a height of up to 4 m. Their stems are thin, 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 takes place on the shoots of the current year, is characterized as very abundant, lasting from July to September.
The Blue Angel variety is frost-resistant, the plant is able to withstand temperatures as low as -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 pruning group Blue Angel
The variety belongs to the third pruning group. Clematis are distinguished by the fact that they bloom on shoots that have 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 secateurs. With their help, the shoots of the Blue Angel are cut 8 mm above the bud, leaving “hemp” 20 cm high. Do not worry about the fact that the bush is cut off entirely. In spring, clematis will give a powerful growth and buds.
Another pruning option for Clematis Blue Angel involves the removal of shoots “through one.” The method allows you to rejuvenate the bushes and distribute the flowers evenly throughout the vine.
Growing conditions for Clematis Blue Angel
The result of growing a healthy plant depends on following several rules:
- soil for clematis needs fertile, light;
- liana does not like stagnant groundwater;
- the landing site should not be accessible to strong winds and drafts;
- creeper roots love partial shade;
- support for clematis must be durable;
- planting a plant with an open root system is carried out in spring and autumn;
- closed root system allows you to plant them all season;
- irrigation should be regular and plentiful, especially after planting;
- top dressing is carried out several times a year;
- for successful wintering, the plant requires reliable shelter;
- timely pruning allows you to save vines and renew their shoots.
Planting and caring for clematis Blue Angel
Clematis ready for spring planting must have at least one shoot. For a seedling, they dig a hole with a length, depth and width of 60 cm. Broken brick, crushed stone or perlite are poured into the bottom for drainage. If the land is not fertile, it is worth adding compost, peat and sand to the pit. It is useful to add superphosphate and dolomite flour. The soil mixture is poured onto the drainage in the form of a hill. A clematis seedling Blue Angel is placed vertically on top, its roots are straightened and covered so that the neck is 10 cm below the soil surface. The pit should not be completely filled with soil mixture: about 10 cm should remain to the ground level. , mulch with peat. In the summer, soil is gradually added to the pit, by the end of the season it should be completely filled. When planting a group of clematis, observe a distance between seedlings of at least 1 m. It is immediately necessary to establish a strong and reliable support.
Further care consists of a number of activities:
- glaze;
- top dressing;
- weeding and mulching;
- trimming;
- shelters in preparation for wintering;
- protection of clematis from pests and diseases.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
The place for Clematis Blue Angel should be chosen with great care. Areas with a close occurrence of groundwater are unsuitable for it. Meter roots of clematis can reach the water horizon and rot. The soil should be checked for pH. It should be slightly alkaline or slightly acidic. Heavy or salty – also not suitable for decorative vines. If the soil is clayey, then lighten it with sand.
Sunny places with protection from the wind and the possibility of shading are the best option for planting. Do not allow the plant to overheat, especially its roots.
It is not necessary to identify Clematis Blue Angel right next to walls, fences, under a drop. It does not tolerate constant wetting of foliage, and directly near the fences the soil dries out and overheats.
Seedling preparation
Only healthy clematis seedlings are suitable for planting, having at least one shoot and roots about 10 cm long. They should be distinguished by elasticity, no damage, swelling, thickening. In case of weakness of the seedling, it should be grown for a year in a school, and then determined to a permanent place.
When cold weather does not allow planting, you can grow a 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 lowered into water for several hours. Treatment with a growth stimulator is recommended for better root formation. It is more expedient for beginner 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.
Rules of landing
When planting Clematis Blue Angel, 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;
- in order to prevent mechanical damage, the shoots are tied to a support;
- in large-flowered clematis, pinch the top of the head to form lateral processes;
- near the vines it is useful to plant phloxes, peonies, marigolds to protect the roots from overheating;
- planting of seedlings is carried out from the south or south-west side of the site;
- mulching the soil with sawdust – in the southern regions and peat – in the northern ones helps to protect against heat.
Watering and top dressing
The roots of Clematis Blue Angel function normally if watering is carried out regularly and in sufficient quantities: twenty liters for each adult plant three times a week. In the heat, watering is carried out more often. Young plants require water once every 10 days. To find out if the vine needs watering, it is worth checking the condition of the soil at a depth of 20 cm. If it is dry, moisturizing is carried out.
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 life of the Blue Angel, you should not abuse top dressing. During the growth period, clematis are given nitrogen fertilizers, budding – potash, immediately after flowering – phosphorus. After pruning, before wintering, it is necessary to add mineral dressings to the soil.
Mulching and loosening
Aeration of the soil allows the root system of Clematis Blue Angel 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, peat. Mulch introduced before wintering protects the roots from freezing. The use of straw can attract rodents. In this case, it is necessary to install baits for them.
Mulch retains moisture in the soil and attracts earthworms that improve soil structure.
The advantage of pine bark lies in the duration of use, since the period of its decomposition 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 the bottom, removing the rest of the shoots;
- sanitary – when diseased, damaged shoots are cut out, the bush is thinned out in order to form it;
- the main one is carried out according to the rules of the pruning group to which clematis belongs.
The blue angel belongs to the third pruning group, which involves shortening all shoots to 30 cm from the ground in autumn, before wintering or early spring. The more buds left, the more abundant the bloom will be, but the flowers will be smaller.
Preparation for winter
Immediately after pruning the Blue Angel clematis, they begin to prepare it for wintering. For creepers, frost is not as bad as wetting the root system. It is necessary to save the tillering center for the resumption of vegetation. Do not use sawdust for shelter, as they cake, freeze, and slowly thaw.
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 put spruce branches, polystyrene foam and cover the vine on top with dry oak leaves, non-woven material, and plastic wrap. The looseness and breathability of the shelter does not allow clematis to rot. Material for winter protection is used repeatedly, for several years. In the spring, open it gradually, allowing the plant to get used to the spring sun.
Reproduction
Experts recommend the most reliable breeding method for the Blue Angel – dividing the bush. It is carried out for clematis at least five years old. To this end, without digging up the plant, a part of it is separated with a shovel and planted as an independent plant.
When the roots are strongly intertwined, it is worth digging up the entire bush and cutting it into pieces with a knife or secateurs. It is necessary to ensure that all parts have kidneys. Further planting and care is carried out according to the same rules.
Diseases and pests
Clematis varieties Blue Angel is disease resistant. If the rules of agricultural technology are violated, pathologies may occur:
- withering;
- powdery mildew;
- alternariosis;
- ascochitosis;
- cylindrosporiosis.
Pests rarely attack clematis bushes. It is believed that spraying the leaves of the plant with cold water is protected from spider mites. In winter, voles can cause damage to the shoots of the Blue Angel. Wrapping the plant with a fine-mesh net, as well as baits for the destruction of rodents, will help protect them.
Conclusion
Clematis Blue Angel is an unpretentious vine, the care of which is not difficult. Its annual rapid growth and flowering delight any gardener. For this reason, the variety has long become popular among flower growers.
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