Thank. I JUST bought it and planted it. I was doing a little googling and saw one web site that by pruning it back to about 10 inches encourages it to develop the trunk. Does that sound nuts?
Lots of buds swelling up here. My lilacs have a bunch of proto flowers on em. Looks like it’ll be a good year.
Sorry DManA,
I scanned your post too quickly. You JUST planted the clematis. From my experience, I’d let the plant grow from the size you purchased in the greenhouse. (It probably came on a little trellis?) I’ve never had one get a real wood-type trunk. Some years mine have died to the ground and send up new shoots. In milder years, the slender vines haves lived to 3 or 4 feet. I’ve always had the best luck growing clematis in a sheltered area next to lattice with shorter plants shading their roots.
It certainly does appear that we’re going to have a standout lilac season, same with the flowering crab trees. It’ll be a while until that first ripe tomato though.