Clematis Sunset: description, pruning group, reviews

Clematis Sunset is a perennial, flowering vine. In spring, bright red flowers bloom on the plant, which last until the first frost. The plant is suitable for vertical cultivation. Powerful and flexible stems will easily and in a short time create a green wall strewn with bright large flowers.

Description Clematis Sunset

Clematis Sunset is a perennial, large-flowered hybrid. In regions with a warm climate, the loach reaches 3 m. The flexible but strong stem is covered with dark green foliage, small in size. 2 times a year, large flowers bloom on the vine, up to 15 cm in diameter. Golden stamens are surrounded by rich pink sepals with a bright purple stripe in the center. The first flowering begins in early summer on last year’s stems, the second – in early autumn on the shoots of the current year.

With proper autumn pruning, an adult plant tolerates severe frosts well. In a winter with little snow, young shoots may freeze slightly, but in spring the plant quickly recovers.

Clematis Sunset pruning group

Hybrid clematis Sunset belongs to the 2nd pruning group – flowers on the vine appear 2 times a year. Such a combined flowering pattern requires a two-stage pruning. The first pruning is carried out after the first flowering, removing old shoots along with seedlings. This will allow the young shoots to get stronger and show a new, abundant flowering.

The second pruning is carried out in the fall, before frost. All shoots are cut to ½ length, leaving a vine 50-100 cm long.

Planting and caring for Clematis Sunset

Hybrid Clematis Sunset is a perennial, unpretentious, large-flowered variety. Planting time depends on the purchased seedling. If the seedling is bought in a pot, then it can be planted throughout the growing season. If the seedling has open roots, planting is best done in the spring before bud break.

Selection and preparation of the landing site

In order for clematis to show itself in all its glory, it is necessary to choose the right place for landing. Clematis Sunset is grown in a well-lit area, as in the shade the flowering will not be lush or bright. It is also necessary to choose a site protected from drafts. Strong, gusty winds can easily break flexible, brittle shoots.

The soil for planting should be well-drained, light, with neutral or weak acidity. On acidified, highly moistened soil, the plant will stop developing and die. Therefore, with the surface flow of groundwater, clematis Sunset is located on a hill so that spring meltwater does not lead to decay of the root system.

If the soil is clayey and depleted, then the following manipulations must be carried out:

1. When digging a planting hole, the excavated soil is mixed with rotted compost, sand and peat in a ratio of 1:1:1.
2. 250 g of wood ash and 100 g of complex mineral fertilizers are added to the finished earth mixture.
3. If the soil is acidified, then 100 g of slaked lime or dolomite flour are added to it.

Seedling preparation

Sunset clematis seedlings are best purchased in a nursery from trusted suppliers. The plant is desirable to buy at 2-3 years of age. It should have a developed root system and 2 strong shoots.

If the roots of the plant have dried up before planting, put Clematis Sunset for 3 hours in warm water with the addition of a root formation stimulator.

Before purchasing a seedling of clematis Sunset for planting in a summer cottage, you must first familiarize yourself with the description, rules for planting and care.

Rules of landing

To grow a beautiful, healthy and flowering plant, you must follow the rules of planting. Step-by-step instructions for planting a seedling of clematis Sunset:

1. Dig a landing hole measuring 70×70 cm.
2. A 15-centimeter layer of drainage is laid at the bottom (broken brick, pebbles, small expanded clay).
3. The hole is covered with nutrient soil and carefully tamped.
4. A hole is made in the soil the size of the root system.
5. The seedling is carefully removed from the pot with a clod of earth and placed in the prepared hole.
6. The voids are filled with earth, ramming each layer.
7. In a properly planted plant, the root neck should be deepened by 8-10 cm.
8. A support is installed to which the planted seedling is tied.
9. The planted plant is abundantly shed, the soil around the trunk circle is mulched.

For this, low-growing perennial and annual flowers are planted nearby. The best neighbors will be marigolds and calendula. These flowers will not only save you from drying out the soil and sunburn, but also protect Sunset from insect pests.

Watering and top dressing

Since perennial Clematis Sunset loves moist soil without stagnant water, watering should be regular. In a dry, hot summer, irrigation is carried out 2-3 times a week, so that moisture soaks the soil to a depth of 30 cm. At least 10 liters of water is spent on a young plant, and 20-30 liters for an adult bush.

Lush and beautiful flowering cannot be achieved on depleted soil. The first top dressing is applied 2 years after planting the seedling, 3-4 times a season:

• during the period of active growth – nitrogenous fertilizers;
• during the formation of buds – phosphorus top dressing;
• after flowering – potash fertilizers;
• 2 weeks before the first frost – complex mineral fertilizers.

Mulching and loosening

After watering, the earth is loosened and mulched superficially. Sawdust, dry foliage, rotted humus are used as mulch. Mulch will protect the roots from overheating, retain moisture, stop the growth of weeds and become additional top dressing.

Trimming

Since Clematis Sunset belongs to the 2nd pruning group, it is pruned 2 times a season. The first pruning is done at the end of June, after flowering. To do this, last year’s shoots are shortened by ½ length.

Autumn pruning is carried out a month before the first frost. Young shoots are shortened, leaving 2-4 well-developed buds, and weak, diseased branches are cut off under the stump.

Preparation for winter

Clematis Sunset is a hardy plant. An adult liana, when grown in regions with an unstable climate, can overwinter without shelter. But in order to save young seedlings after pruning, they must be prepared for the upcoming frosts in 2 weeks. For this:

1. The plant is abundantly shed with warm, settled water.
2. Liana is fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
3. The trunk circle is spudded with sand and ash to a height of 15 cm.
4. When the temperature drops to -3 ° C, the cut vine is bent to the ground and covered with dry foliage or spruce branches, covered with a wooden box and covered with roofing material or agrofiber.

Reproduction

Clematis Sunset can be propagated by cuttings and branches. The seed method of reproduction is not suitable, since with this method of reproduction, the grown plant will not have a maternal resemblance.

Cuttings. Cuttings 5-7 cm long are cut in autumn from a healthy shoot. Each cutting should have 2-3 well-developed buds. Planting material is treated in a growth stimulator and buried 2-3 cm into light, moistened soil at an acute angle. The container with the cuttings is transferred to a cool room where the temperature is kept within 0 ° C. In early spring, the container is installed in a warm, well-lit room. With regular watering, the first leaves on the handle appear in mid-March. So that the plant does not waste energy on the growth of green mass, the lower leaves must be removed. When the shoots get stronger and form a powerful root system, they can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Branch propagation is the easiest and most effective way to propagate Clematis Sunset.

1. In autumn, the strongest and healthiest shoot is chosen, which is located near the ground.
2. After removing the foliage, it is placed in a prepared trench to a depth of 5 cm so that the top is located above the ground.
3. The shoot is covered with nutrient soil, spilled and mulched.

In a year, the branch will give roots and will be ready to be separated from the mother bush.

Diseases and pests

Clematis Sunset has resistance to fungal diseases and is rarely attacked by insect pests. But if the agrotechnical rules are not followed, diseases often appear on Sunset clematis, which can be identified from the photo.

1. Withering “Wilt”. The first signs of the disease are wilted leaves on the tops of the stems. With untimely treatment, the plant dies. When the first signs are found, all shoots are cut at the root, and the near-stem circle is shed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

   

2. Necrosis of leaves – fungal disease, often appears after flowering. The leaves are covered with a dark brown bloom, dry out and fall off. In order not to lose the plant, it is sprayed with a 1% solution of copper sulfate.

   

3. Rust – tuberculate growths of orange color appear on the outer side of the leaf. Without treatment, the foliage dries out and falls off, and the shoots become deformed and lose their elasticity. To combat the disease, the plant is treated with broad-spectrum fungicides.

   

4. Nematodes – the pest infects the root system, which leads to the rapid death of the plant. It is impossible to save the liana, it is dug up and disposed of, and the earth is treated with boiling water or disinfectant solutions.

   

Conclusion

Clematis Sunset is a perennial, large-flowered vine that does not require careful care and shelter for the winter. In favorable conditions and with proper pruning, the variety blooms 2 times a season, in summer and autumn. Clematis Sunset is suitable for vertical gardening. Thanks to the tall liana, you can decorate unattractive places in the backyard.

Clematis Sunset Reviews