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Large-flowered clematis Diamond Ball belongs to the varieties of Polish selection. It has been on sale since 2012. The originator of the variety is Shchepan Marchinsky. Diamond Ball won the gold medal at the 2013 Grand Press in Moscow.
Description of Clematis Diamond Ball
Scourges of clematis Diamond Ball reach a length of 2 m. To grow up, they need strong support. The plant is light-requiring, blooms in June-July with large double flowers. Lush flowering, almost from the base of the bush. Diamond Ball blooms again in August, but not so abundantly.
Clematis leaves are light green, trifoliate, compound or single, up to 10 cm long. The corollas of flowers are 10-12 cm in diameter, painted in white-blue, resembling a dahlia in shape.
Clematis Diamond Ball (pictured above) is recommended for cultivation in zones 4-9. Withstands temperatures as low as -34 ° C. Resistant to diseases, responds well to top dressing, soil mulching.
Clematis Pruning Group Diamond Ball
Clematis Diamond Ball belongs to the second pruning group. It is cut off slightly in the fall, because the first flower buds are laid on last year's shoots. The second wave of flowering occurs in summer. At this time, flowers bloom on young, annual shoots.
Planting and caring for clematis Diamond Ball
To create good conditions for hybrid Diamond Ball clematis, it is necessary to ensure timely watering and feeding, correct pruning, protection from diseases and pests. Shoots need strong support for normal growth.
Planting of seedlings is carried out in autumn, September or spring. Choose a sunny place with fertile loamy soil. It is advisable to prepare a large pit 60 cm deep and in diameter for clematis, put drainage on the bottom, and add the following components to the soil:
- peat;
- sand;
- humus or compost;
- 1 tbsp. complete mineral fertilizer;
- 1 tbsp. ash;
- 150 g superphosphate;
- 100 g bone meal.
The hole is filled with about half of the prepared soil mixture, a mound is made and clematis is planted with a root collar deepening by 8-12 cm. The bush is well watered, the soil is mulched. Cover when the first frosts begin.
In the spring, they remove excess mulch from under the clematis, leaving a layer 5-7 cm thick. It will retain moisture in the soil and protect it from overheating, prevent weeds from germinating. It is undesirable to leave a large layer of mulch, the bases of the sprouts will freeze, the density of the bush will suffer.
Before budding in April, Clematis Diamond Ball requires light pruning. If the bushes are not tall, you do not need to cut them in the fall. In the spring, the branches are cleaned with hands from dried leaves. Then the weak, diseased and broken shoots are cut out. The rest of the lashes are cut at a height of 1.5-1.7 m above strong buds, directing them to grow along the support. Thin and dead shoots are cut off from the ground, dry petioles are removed. If left behind, they can serve as breeding grounds for disease. After the first flowering, you can carry out sanitary and formative pruning, removing broken branches thickening the bush and faded buds.
Knowing the peculiarities of growing clematis Diamond Ball, you can provide him with good care. In the first half of summer, the plant is given organic fertilizers - compost, rotted manure.Mineral dressing will also be useful. Abundant flowering stimulates the introduction of trace elements (boron, magnesium, iron, calcium) and potassium-phosphorus preparations. Horse manure can be used as mulch. When watering, the soil is moistened deeply. Clematis has a powerful root system and a large vegetative mass by 3-5 years.
Preparing for winter
In clematis of the second group of pruning of the first year of life, the lashes are cut at a height of 10 cm from the soil level. In the spring, new shoots of renewal will begin to grow and in the second year of the lash, you can try to save the winter.
In regions with a cold climate, clematis are removed from the support, the shoots are shortened at a height of 1.5 m from the ground, and laid on a layer of mulch that covers the soil under the bush. An air-dry shelter is built on top, as for roses - spunbond is pulled over a frame or over spruce branches.
Reproduction
The varietal clematis large-flowered Diamond Ball is most often propagated by cuttings. To obtain planting material, the lash is cut off and divided into parts, leaving 2 internodes on each.
Rooting order of cuttings:
- The lower leaves are cut, the upper ones are shortened to reduce the area of moisture evaporation.
- A mixture is prepared from garden soil and sand.
- The cuttings are dipped in the lower cut into "Kornevin" and planted in small pots with prepared soil.
- Then watered with settled warm water.
- For each cutting, a greenhouse is made from a two-liter bottle, cutting off the bottom.
- Water as the soil dries.
- Placed in diffused sunlight.
- After rooting, the cuttings are transplanted to a permanent place.
Clematis can also be propagated by layering or dividing the bush when transplanting. This method gives a 100% guarantee of rooting, but the young bush takes a long time to grow. It takes 3-5 years for the plant to mature after rooting the cuttings and cutting or dividing the bush.
Diseases and pests
Clematis most often suffer from wilt. This disease manifests itself in the wilting of the shoots. The second group of pruning often causes disappointment for flower growers precisely because of the wilt; it is more intended for professionals, experienced gardeners.
This plant is resistant to pests. Aphids can settle on juicy young leaves and buds. For prophylaxis, the bushes are treated with any insecticide of systemic action.
Conclusion
Clematis Diamond Ball is distinguished by beautiful bluish double flowers. He belongs to the second group of pruning, needs shelter for the winter. The variety is frost-resistant, has strong immunity, and is rarely affected by diseases and pests.
