Of course, when they are pruned back, they will have few flowers the first summer. Lack of iron results in iron chlorosis and, subsequently, a dying plant. As a part of your regular watering, the plants will benefit from the addition of a sequestrene iron chelate. When used according to the manufacturerUs recommendations, iron chelate promotes good vine structure and a deep color. Shade the Base Clematis vines need shade at the base.
Many plants die because the soil becomes too warm.
A lean-to shingle can serve temporarily as a sun baffle. A planting of non-competing ground cover is enough to cool the soil. No matter what you do, donUt let the sun strike the lower three inches of the clematis plant. The climbing mechanism is the leaves which wrap around objects they touch. A wire mesh trellis, preferably of non-rust metal, will do the job.