Friday, April 10, 2009

Give Your Landscape Some WOW!


Clematis 'Niobe'
icon(click for more info)

Dress up your landscape and give it some "WOW" at the same time! Like that mailbox that stands starkley in the very front of your house- one of the first things people see? Or maybe you have some porch columns that could use some help. Perhaps you would like to "screen out" some area of your landscape that just doesn't quite fit in.

Now is the time to make things POP with the Clematis 'Niobe'.
icon 'Niobe' is simply the best red Clematis available, its crushed-velvet blooms glowing with rich color from the moment the buds open. Their initial shade of nearly black matures to a deep ruby, offset by a slender, prominent center of bright yellow.
This gorgeous, easy-to-grow climber blooms heavily over a long summer season on compact, manageable 6-foot vines, creating an unforgettable display.

How do I take care of my 'Niobe'?

Clematis 'Niobe' grows readily in rich, well-drained, alkaline soil with plenty of room for the roots to spread. Water well but avoid keeping its "feet" wet, and feed it each spring with an organic fertilizer. Prune 'Niobe' in early spring by cutting the vine back 6 or 8 inches to the nearest pair of strong leaf axil buds.

What are some good companion plants for my new 'Niobe'?

Roses
icon Roses are classic Clematis companions, especially climbing varieties with complementary bloom colors. The rule of thumb for these vines is to keep the roots cool and the tops warm, so pair them with bushy perennials that will shade their feet while providing extra color! Whatever companions you choose, be careful not to overcrowd Clematis or plant it with anything that would compete for moisture or nutrients.

Lavandula 'Munstead'
icon(click for more info)


Phlox divaricata 'Manita'
icon(click for more info)







Til next time, go forth and do great things!

Poppy

2 comments:

  1. Poppy keep it up! You need to figure out how to make a comission on recomendations. We love the 'Niobe.' We did a little further research on your recomendation, and we have conteemplated trying to mix it in and around the Rosa mentioned in your previous article. What do you think?

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  2. I wrote this post with ya'll in mind! When I saw the climatis advertised I said to myself, "Self, Tim and Denise would love this". I think there has got to be a million diffent ways climatis can be used to create some beautiful displays. Ya'll keep at it!
    Poppy

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