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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 crop itself looks like a cloud during flowering. Such a vine will decorate any site with its appearance, make it more comfortable and elegant. Clematis is unpretentious, but knowing all the intricacies of agricultural technology will not be superfluous for those who decided to plant it.
Characteristics of the Blue Angel clematis variety
The homeland of the variety is Poland, where it was bred in the late eighties of the last century. The culture belongs to the late-flowering large-flowered clematis. Vines are able to rise to a height of 4 m. Their stems are thin, curly. Leaves are bright green, trifoliate, opposite, with a wide asymmetric plate. The roots are soft, fibrous, cordlike.
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, it is characterized as very abundant, lasting from July to September.
The Blue Angel variety belongs to frost-resistant, the plant is able to withstand temperatures down to -34⁰oC. It is weakly susceptible to disease.
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 trimming group Blue Angel
The variety belongs to the third pruning group. Clematis are distinguished by the fact that they bloom on the shoots that have grown in the current year. Autumn pruning is done thoroughly and is considered “strong”.
For the process, you will need a disinfected knife and pruner. With their help, the shoots of the Blue Angel are cut off 8 mm above the bud, leaving "hemp" 20 cm high. Do not worry about the whole bush being cut off. In the spring, clematis will give a powerful growth and buds.
Another pruning option for Blue Angel clematis involves removing the shoots "one by one". The method allows you to rejuvenate the bushes and distribute flowers evenly throughout the liana.
Conditions for growing clematis Blue Angel
The result of growing a healthy plant depends on the observance of 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;
- vine 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;
- a closed root system allows them to be planted all season;
- irrigation should be regular and abundant, especially after planting;
- feeding is carried out several times a year;
- for successful wintering, the plant requires a reliable shelter;
- timely pruning allows you to save vines and update their shoots.
Planting and caring for Clematis Blue Angel
Clematis, ready for spring planting, must have at least one shoot. For a seedling, a hole is dug with a length, depth and width of 60 cm.Broken brick, crushed stone or perlite is poured at the bottom for drainage. If the soil is not fertile, it is worth adding compost, peat and sand to the pit. It is helpful to add superphosphate and dolomite flour. The soil mixture is poured onto the drainage in the form of a hill. A Blue Angel clematis seedling 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.After planting the Blue Angel clematis, the surface around the plant is watered , 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 the seedlings of at least 1 m. Immediately it is necessary to install a solid and reliable support.
Further care consists in performing a number of activities:
- glaze;
- 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 location for the Blue Angel clematis should be chosen with great care. Areas with a close occurrence of groundwater are unsuitable for it. The 1-meter roots of clematis can reach the water horizon and rot. The soil should be tested for pH. It should be slightly alkaline or slightly acidic. Heavy or salty - also not suitable for decorative liana. If the soil is clay, then it should be lightened with sand.
Sunshine locations with wind protection and shade is the best option for planting. Do not allow the plant to overheat, especially its roots.
Do not spot Blue Angel clematis right next to walls, fences, or under a drop. It does not tolerate the 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, after which it should be assigned to a permanent place.
When cold weather does not allow planting, you can grow a vine for a while in a container on a windowsill or in a greenhouse.
The roots often dry out during transportation. In this case, the plant is immersed in water for several hours. Treatment with a growth stimulant is recommended for better root formation. It is more advisable for novice gardeners to purchase Blue Angel clematis seedlings with a closed root system, which significantly increases the chance of plant survival in a short time.
Landing rules
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 crown to form lateral processes;
- it is useful to plant phloxes, peonies, marigolds near the vines to protect the roots from overheating;
- planting of seedlings is carried out from the southern or southwestern side of the site;
- Mulching the soil with sawdust in the southern regions and peat in the northern regions helps to protect from the heat.
Watering and feeding
Blue Angel clematis roots 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 a vine needs watering, it is worth checking the condition of the soil at a depth of 20 cm. If it is dry, moisten it.
Water must 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 Blue Angel's life, you should not overuse feeding.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 fertilizing to the soil.
Mulching and loosening
Aeration of the soil allows the Blue Angel clematis root system 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 you can damage the roots lying at a shallow depth.
The loosening process is replaced by mulching with crushed bark, peat. Mulch applied before wintering protects the roots from freezing. Using straw can attract rodents. In this case, you need to install baits for them.
Mulch retains moisture in the soil, attracts earthworms, which improve its structure.
The advantage of pine bark is its long-term use, since its decomposition period is 3 years.
Pruning
When growing clematis, several scraps 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 sick, 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 trimming group to which the clematis belongs.
The blue angel belongs to the third pruning group, which involves shortening all shoots up to 30 cm from the ground in the fall, before wintering or in early spring. The more buds are left, the more abundant the flowering will be, but the flowers will be smaller.
Preparing for winter
Immediately after pruning clematis, the Blue Angel begins to prepare it for wintering. For lianas, frost is not as terrible as the soaking of the root system. It is necessary to preserve the center of tillering for the resumption of the growing season. It is not necessary to use sawdust for shelter, as they cake, freeze, thaw slowly.
For Clematis, who has been pruned in the third group, it is not difficult to make protection, since the shoots of the plant are short. It is enough to put spruce branches, polystyrene and cover the liana on top with dry oak leaves, non-woven material, plastic wrap. The looseness and air permeability of the shelter does not allow clematis to rot. The material for winter protection is used many times over several years. In the spring, they open it gradually, allowing the plant to get used to the spring sun.
Reproduction
Experts recommend the most reliable way of reproduction for the Blue Angel - by dividing the bush. It is carried out for clematis at least five years old. For this purpose, without digging up the plant, 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 dividing it into parts with a knife or secateurs. Care must be taken to ensure that all parts have kidneys. Further planting and care is carried out according to the same rules.
Diseases and pests
Clematis of the Blue Angel variety is resistant to disease. If the rules of agricultural technology are violated, pathologies may arise:
- wilting;
- powdery mildew;
- alternaria;
- ascochitis;
- cylindrosporiasis.
Pests rarely attack clematis bushes. It is believed that spraying the leaves of the plant with cold water protects it from the spider mite. In winter, voles can damage Blue Angel's shoots. Wrapping the plant with a mesh with a fine mesh, as well as bait for the destruction of rodents, will help protect them.
Conclusion
Clematis Blue Angel is an unpretentious liana, the care of which is not difficult. Its annual rapid growth and flowering delights any gardener. For this reason, the variety has long become popular among amateur flower growers.
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