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Clematis variety Ville de Lyon is the pride of French breeders. This perennial climbing shrub belongs to the large-flowered group.
Variety description
The stems grow to a height of 2,5-5 m. The light brown young branches of Ville de Lyon clematis become brown as they grow older. There can be about 15 shoots in one bush, up to 15 buds are formed on each.
Ville de Lyon shrub blooms from July to September. The first round-shaped flowers grow with an average diameter of 10-15 cm (sometimes even 20 cm), and the later ones already shrink to 6-10 cm. The color palette of the petals changes from carmine red at the center to deep purple at the edges (as in the photo) .
Gardeners appreciate Ville de Lyon clematis for several reasons:
- frost resistance allows you not to dig bushes for the winter;
- fast-growing branches create a picturesque hedge on walls or arbors every season;
- abundant flowering of clematis decorates the site for a long time;
- requires minimal care for the bushes;
- shrub is resistant to fungal infections.
When planting a crop in open areas, it must be borne in mind that the flowers may lose their bright color. Literally burn out in the sun.
Nuances of landing
Sites with fertile soil, neutral or slightly alkaline, are selected. Ville de Lyon bushes bloom luxuriantly in loose, well-drained soils.
Clematis of the Ville de Lyon variety is actively woven along the fence and along a specially installed picket fence or chain-link mesh. It is important to properly equip the cellular bases for the stems. The main thing is that the height of the support for clematis should not be lower than 2 m and wider than 1,5 m.
Ville de Lyon seeds are large (about 5-6 mm thick and 10-12 mm long). They differ in an uneven long period of germination – from one and a half to eight months, so you can start planting them immediately after harvest.
Stages of work
- Clematis Ville de Lyon seeds are dipped in a solution of growth stimulants for 30 minutes: Epin, succinic acid. In a low box (15-20 cm is enough), 3-5 cm of drainage are poured, then 10 cm of fertile soil (ground, peat, sand are mixed in equal parts).
- Seeds are laid out in moistened furrows up to 1,5 cm deep, sprinkled with earth and moistened.
- In order to germinate as much seed as possible, a stratification method is used – alternating temperatures. First, the box is kept for 2 weeks in a warm room with diffused lighting. Then 6-8 weeks in the refrigerator (vegetable compartment). Then again put the container with clematis seeds in a warm room. At the same time, make sure that the soil does not dry out too much.
- After 3-4 weeks, the first shoots of clematis sprout. Acceptable germination quality is 60%.
- After the appearance of 2-3 leaves, the seedlings are seated in separate containers. Take out individual sprouts carefully, because other seeds may germinate later.
Depending on the region, Ville de Lyon clematis seedlings are planted in an open area in spring or autumn. In the southern regions, the optimal period is the end of September-beginning of October. Moreover, the trunk is deepened so that the lower kidney is below ground level (5-8 cm in central Our Country and 3-4 cm in the south). Thanks to this, side shoots will grow and the Ville de Lyon clematis will not freeze in winter.
Wells with a diameter of about 50 cm are placed in increments of 70-80 cm and prepared in advance. 50 g of superphosphate is poured into the hole, about a bucket of humus, and wood ash – 300-400 g. If the soil is characterized by increased acidity, then lime can be added (about 150-200 g). Since clematis Ville de Lyon is a perennial, a drainage layer (pebbles, expanded clay, crushed bricks) must be laid out in the hole. The seedling is deepened and dug in, watered.
It is recommended to mulch the near-trunk circle of bushes to prevent the soil from drying out quickly. An excellent option for “permanent mulch” can be low plants that will shade the roots of Ville de Lyon clematis and serve as an additional planting decor. An excellent choice is marigolds, marigolds, especially since these flowers also have fungicidal qualities and repel harmful insects.
Care instructions
The first couple of years after planting, the shrub builds up the root system.
And it blooms profusely from 3-4 years of age. In order for the clematis of the Ville de Lyon variety to fully develop, the shoots are evenly distributed over the support and tied up with ropes. We must try to ensure that all the foliage is fully illuminated. Clematis shoots, creeping along the ground, must be carefully tied up on a support.
Shrub pruning advice
When growing clematis, the use of three types of pruning is practiced. Shrub Ville de Lyon is formed according to the third type (flowers grow large): the stems are strongly cut out. This event is carried out to stimulate lush flowering. They are engaged in the formation of clematis bushes in spring or autumn. All processes are removed at a distance of approximately 7 cm from the kidney. The approximate reference point for the cut is 20 cm from the earth’s surface.
To carry out high-quality pruning of Ville de Lyon clematis, a sharp pruner is used. To prevent the spread of possible diseases, the blades of the tool are treated with an alcohol solution after each bush.
Watering mode
As the land dries up, the Ville de Lyon clematis are irrigated, preferably in the evening. Experienced gardeners recommend using warm water for watering bushes. And we must try to avoid getting liquid on the green mass or stems. To do this, water is poured carefully, trying not to stagnate around the root collar. Immediately after watering, the soil is loosened or mulched.
Young shrubs need frequent watering (about twice a week). Adult clematis are rarely irrigated. But you have to be aware of the weather conditions. The shrub does not tolerate excess moisture. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant it in lowlands or in areas with a high location of groundwater.
Application of fertilizers
It is practiced 4-5 times per season to fertilize the soil. If the land was well fertilized when planting Ville de Lyon clematis, then additional feeding is not used in the first year.
In early spring, nitrogen fertilizers are applied to ensure enhanced growth of green mass. When buds begin to tie on the bushes, the soil is fertilized with potassium and phosphorus. At the end of the season, granular superphosphate can be used. When using any fertilizer, the manufacturer’s recommendations should be carefully followed. Clematis Ville de Lyon does not respond well to excess feeding.
Recommendations for growing
In regions with cold winters, it is desirable to protect the clematis shrub from frost. To do this, the stems are cut at a height of approximately 20 cm from the ground, laid on the ground, covered with dry foliage and earth. The center of the bushes also needs protection. It is recommended to first loosen the ground in the near-stem circle of clematis and also cover this entire area with foliage or sawdust. It is important to prevent rotting shoots.
Clematis Ville de Lyon is considered resistant to fungal diseases. However, at the beginning of the season, it is recommended to spray the bushes with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulphate for preventive purposes (use a 1% solution). If, nevertheless, signs of infection appear, then it is necessary to remove the affected areas and treat the clematis with fungicides.
Bushes of the Ville de Lyon variety with luxurious flowering originally decorate both the fences of the site, and gazebos, balconies. If the plantings are provided with good conditions, then clematis is able to grow in one place for more than 20 years. Therefore, he deservedly enjoys the love of summer residents and gardeners.
