I have a wonderful clematis that is suffering from wilt for the second year. I stupidly planted another clematis near it last year and that clematis now also has wilt. The second one I don't much care for. But the first one, Anna Louise, I'm quite attached to. Last year I cut it to the ground and in the fall nice new growth came back. This spring it looked good. Last week I noticed wilt starting. I cut that part out but now it is spreading and has taken the small newer clematis near it. Both are planted on an spire where the sprinkler system really beats on it. This I realize is a problem. I'm wondering if it is worth cutting Anna Louise back to the ground, digging her up, and moving her. Or am I just spreading the problem??
I lost two other clematis (or is it clematii?) last year to wilt. One came back only to succumb again. I plan to just remove that one (it is very close to two other ones who so far have been unaffected). The other one, Empress, did not come back. In the spring I dug up the root ball and moved it. I figured it was worth a shot to see if it returns next year. I really like that one.
And finally, does anyone use fungicide on their clematis? Did it work? I'm not sure it is worth it. But I do plant on sprinkling cinnamon on the ground around Anna Louise if I do move her. It can't hurt.
Any shared REAL world experience would be helpful.
