Need some help with Clematis

Dr. Ruppel seems to be especially prone to clematis wilt, I have trouble with that one too. You don't give the varieties of the others, but are you pruning them correctly? This does make a big difference to flowering and the way the plant looks. Can't answer you without knowing which varieties/species you've got, and I mean the full Latin names. Sounds like you've got the planting right, heads in the sun, feet in the shade. More info please

Nelly Moser prefers a bit of shade, Mike. As Mims2 says, we really need some extra info to make helpful suggestions...or photos?

Thanks to both of you for your replies. I'm on my way to work shortly so I can't give you Latin names as my plant tags don't have them so I would have to look them up. The names I do have are Multi Blue, Dr. Ruppel, Madam Grange, Nelly Moser and one that I don't know the name of. As far as pruning goes. Except for the Autumn Sweet Clematis all of them grow back from the ground each year. The old growth does not survive the winters. Remember that we have very cold winters here with a lot of snow and for a long period compared to the winters in the UK. So the only one that I prune is the Autumn Clematis. Any thoughts on fertilizing and how frequently ? It is very possible that I might not have fertilized them as often as I should. Thanks again for your help.

Hello again... Forgot to ask...

Barbara, Does Nelly Moser prefer a bit of shade because a lot of sun will fade the colors of the flowers ? If so then a location with morning sun and then shade from early to mid afternoon would be good ?

I remember seeing the photo of the front of your house with your Clematis growing all over it. The only Clematis that would grow long like that here would be the Autumn Sweet Clematis. A Montana would die back to the ground each year and would only grow to about 10 feet. Thanks again for your help...

Answer: Yes! She does fade in the sun, Mike and that position might well suit her.

I give all my clematis a feed of blood, fish and bone in early spring, then a liquid feed monthly while they are in growth. Does that help?

It sure does help Barbara. I've never done blood, fish and bone for them and I think I'm guilty of not liquid feeding them as often as I should. I will get to feeding them regularly for sure as I think that's what they most likely need. I'm going to move Nelly Moser to the new location tomorrow. She will share an arbor that I have a climbing rose on named Berries and Cream. It's a light shade of pink with a rose stripe going through. Very similar to Nelly so it might be very interesting. On the other side of the arbor is my climbing Hydrangea. Thanks again very much for your help.

You're welcome, Mike. :-) Hope it works!

I adore Clematis and have quite a few in my front and back garden.
I've always found that cutting them back will always promote bushiness and flowering.
They are a lot hardier than people think and they should tolerate most positions. Shaded roots are good, if yours are grown through other plants and shrubs the foliage of those plants is perfect for the Clematis.
Maybe a hard prune is all that's needed ?

HI Louise... Thanks for your comment. As mentioned I don't prune them because they come up from the ground each spring. The previous years growth always dies back completely. Since posting this question I have given them all a good feeding and I can already see a big difference.

Wow that's good Mike.
I confess i've never fed mine, if yours have made that much of a difference i think i will ! Thanks !

Just in a week's time they seem to have greened up a lot and they also seem to be growing faster than they were. Spritzhenri mentioned that she does blood, fish and bone in the early spring. I picked up a bottle of fish emulsion fertilizer and that's what I fed them with.