Clematis problem

[Georgia]

I bought a clematis plant about a month ago from a local nursery and planted it where it will get pretty good amounts of sun. The plant was a bit sickly, but the nurseryman said it would come back, no problem.

The plant now looks awful - most of the leaves have turned brown and crusty and I don't see any new growth. Should I cut it back to the ground or wait it out? Should I try another location?

I'm new to clematis, so not sure what the problem is!

Thanks

Georgia

[Pam]

Cut it back, keep it well watered and mulch the roots. Sounds like it is suffering from a combination of transplant shock and drought stress. Mid-summer is a tough time to attempt to get a young clematis established (particularly in Georgia) and even more so if the plant is stressed to begin with. Depending on cultivar, you may also be experiencing a problem with wilt, however the treatment is exactly the same. It also helps considerably if you plant the clematis deeply (4-6 inches deeper than it was in the nursery can) in a well prepared and large planting hole. This will encourage a healthy root system and multiple growth shoots from the crown. It will want lots of water through the rest of the summer.

pam - gardengal