Question
My clematis has a fair amount of blooms on it but the leaves start to wither up before the blooms have finished. They were just planted last year.

Answer
Hi Cathy:

Do you have something in front of the Clematis. Clematis like to have their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun. The cause of your withering leaves may be that the roots are drying out from the sun. If bottom of the plant is in the sun I would say that's what's wrong.

You could use a stone or annual or perennial flowers or a low growing shrub. My friend has a beautiful Clematis and she has a low growing juniper in front of it. I've also seen a three sided box around them that is put into the ground with stakes. In fact anything that gives about 1 to 2 feet of shade to the roots.

If this is not the problem write back with a follow-up and we can brain storm from there.

Hope this helps                    Myrna