Clematis leaves turn yellow: causes and treatment

Everyone loves clematis, these exquisite vines with a scattering of flowers drive everyone crazy. But you can often see yellowed leaves on plants. This condition is a symptom of many problems that you need to get rid of as soon as possible.

You can not prescribe treatment until the true cause of this condition is determined.

Diseases of a viral nature most often cause a condition in which the lower leaves of clematis turn yellow and dry. Ailments can be different, as well as the effect on the plant, but the result is always the same - clematis becomes weakened, the leaves fall off, become smaller, it does not bloom at all or is very poor. The type of disease can be identified by the condition of the leaves and the nature of the damage.

• Yellow mosaic, a viral disease, rarely affects clematis. It is transmitted by insects, and these are caterpillars, ticks and aphids. If a rusty mosaic appears on the leaves below, which appears in early spring, then the plant needs to be saved. The affected foliage gradually dries up, new leaves appear, which await the same fate. Rust cannot immediately destroy the vine, the plant hibernates successfully, but next spring it will definitely be infected, which will cause death.
• Spots on the leaves, gradually spreading to all foliage, lead to yellowing and wilting of the entire green mass, they speak of a fungal disease. There are many types of this disease. Only a few varieties can be identified by the color of the spots. For example, ascochitis manifests itself in the form of brown spots, yellow lesions with an ocher tint are characteristic of cylindrosporium. Septoria infects the leaf with gray spots with a red border. The veins may not change, despite the growth of damage throughout the sheet. The good news is that all fungal diseases are treated the same way.
• Necrosis or saprotroph - also a fungal disease. It occurs in the fall and is localized on old leaves. In small quantities, necrosis is not dangerous. Large localizations and active reproduction can damage the shoots. In this case, you need to cut off all the old foliage, burn it, and treat the liana with preparations with copper in the composition.
• Wilt - this is the wilting of the plant for no apparent reason. Suspicion falls on soil fungus. These microorganisms live in the ground, parasitize on the roots of clematis and block sap flow. There is another, similar fungus, coniotirium. He lives on the bottom of the shoots.
• Phomopsis - This is a harmful fungus, moves from the roots along the lianas and spreads to the whole plant. Symptoms of the disease appear in May or June - spots with a dark yellow color appear on the lower foliage, they spread over the leaf, and after a while it disappears. This disease is especially dangerous for varieties with large flowers - in this case, the plant often dies.
• Fusarium Is another parasite from the fungus family. Its effect on clematis, especially large and young ones, causes the appearance of spots from the edge to the center of the leaf. As a result, the leaf dries completely. The disease spreads from the roots, moving along the shoots. The upper leaves, which did not have time to become stained, wither.

They also often attack the plant, which is why yellow leaves appear at the bottom, and at the top the foliage becomes smaller. Here is a list of the most common pests.

• The foliage at the base of clematis may turn yellow from spider mites. This pest in the process of its life sucks the juices from the plant. You can find a spider mite by white spots. After a while, the leaves will be entangled in cobwebs.
• Slugs and snails actively eat leaves in the spring and throughout the summer, if it turned out to be wet and cool.
• Beet aphids live on the underside of foliage. In the course of their vital activity, pests suck out the juice from the leaves, which leads to their yellowing.
• Caterpillars can settle in the ground and on the plant itself.
• Nematodes can infect roots or leaves and shoots. It is impossible to cope with such a pest, since it is found already at the stage when nothing can help the plant.
• Mice and moles do not eat clematis, but they can make their holes next to it.

You can carefully care for the vine, observing all the rules, but the plant still withers and discards yellowed leaves. In this case, it remains only to assume that clematis is lacking in nutrients.

• Sulfur deficiency manifests itself in the form of pale leaves. You can save the situation with the help of gypsum sulfate, it is permissible to use ammonium sulfate.
• With a lack of magnesium, clematis becomes covered with twisted leaves with yellow spots. We make fertilizing with magnesium sulfate, and after a short time we enjoy the healthy look of the vine.
• Nitrogen should be applied at the root every spring. The lack of this component can be determined by the unusual color of the foliage - yellow with red. You can add nitrogen in different ways: peat, urea, manure. The ban is imposed on ammonium chloride - clematis should in no case come into contact with chlorine.
• Orange old leaves will indicate a large amount of potassium. This component is difficult to wash out of the soil, so a quick result will not work. To reduce potassium, you can feed the soil with ammonium sulfate.
• The iron causes the leaves to turn yellow, starting from the top of the vine. The veins of their color do not change. The way out of this situation is to reduce the amount of calcium in the soil.

The choice of treatment is based on the reason which led to such a state of the plant.

• With fungal diseases drugs that contain copper help to cope. Before processing, it is necessary to tear off the affected foliage and burn it.
• Yellow mosaic is not cured because there is no cure for it. It is necessary to cut off the affected parts of the plant in a timely manner and carry out treatment from the pests that have infected it. Colloidal sulfur, Karbofos and potassium soap are effective agents. As a preventive measure, the proximity of clematis with phloxes, delphiniums, peonies, hosts, bulbous plants, aquilegia and sweet peas should not be allowed. All of these plants are highly susceptible to viral infection.
• If wilting creepers due to winter temperature drops, then a solution of "Fundazol" with a concentration of 0.2% is poured under the root. Such a top dressing for your favorite liana should be carried out 2 times a year (autumn and spring) as a preventive measure.
• Large pests (caterpillars, slugs) are harvested by hand, and the plant is treated with appropriate preparations that are suitable for controlling the observed pests. Improvised means are also actively used.The most effective of these are soapy water, garlic infusion, or ash.
• Getting rid of rust is easyif the problem was noticed in the early stages. In this case, you will need to cut off all affected leaves that need to be burned. The plant is treated with copper oxychloride, "Oxychom", Bordeaux liquid (concentration 2%) or "Polychom". If the problem is in disrepair, then you will have to cut off all the shoots at the root. Together with this, all weeds are removed, which will prevent re-infestation. Although this method is cardinal, it is characterized by high efficiency.
• Remove spider mites from the plant you can use insecticides and acaricides. Some craftsmen treat the vine with a detergent for dishes, which is pre-diluted in water.

Clematis can be safely called a capricious plant that requires attention. No one is immune from the appearance of yellowed leaves on it. But everyone can reduce the likelihood of such a problem. To do this, you must adhere to simple rules.

First of all, you need to choose the right place for planting vines. Unfavorable conditions will make the plant weak and vulnerable to a number of diseases. The ideal conditions for normal growth and abundant flowering of clematis are described below:

1. protection from rain, drafts and winds;
2. protection against sudden temperature surges;
3. adequate lighting;
4. shading from the midday sun;
5. providing ventilation to the plant when arranging the support.

The soil and planting site should prepare in a certain way:

• the soil around the planting site is well loosened, weeds and old roots of surrounding plants are removed;
• drainage is done as needed, for this you can use gravel or sand;
• a barrier is dug between clematis and neighboring plants, which will not allow root systems to intertwine with each other;
• it is advisable to add compost or humus based on foliage to the soil;
• the plant must be buried in two eyes and planted at a slight slope;
• bark-based mulch keeps weeds from growing.

Clematis requires care, during which you cannot make the following mistakes:

• loosening the soil should not be carried out with a rake, since delicate shoots and roots can be damaged;
• any damage to the shoot must be processed, which will prevent the ingress of a fungal infection;
• moisture should not stagnate in the soil, since in such conditions the vine will be weak;
• watering is carried out only at the root, since moisture on the leaves is another unfavorable factor;
• pruning is carried out in accordance with generally recognized rules;
• during the first two years of life, clematis needs to be fed and watered regularly;
• the roots of the plant should be kept in cool conditions, and the leaves need sunlight.

Prevention of fungal diseases consists in treating the plant with a solution of vitriol (copper or iron) with a concentration of 1%. This procedure is performed in spring and autumn.

Clematis can get sick even in the areas of experienced florists and professionals. But they know what to do in such situations, because their vines are always in perfect condition. To achieve such a result will help clear and accessible to everyone recommendations for the care of clematis.

• Vines are planted in strict accordance with the rules. Break one thing, and the plant will no longer be as lush and strong as you would like.
• Watering and feeding are carried out in a special mode, which must be adhered to as accurately as possible.
• Weeds should not coexist with a refined vine.They not only clog clematis, but can also become carriers of diseases.
• Mulching the soil around the plant is best done using mint or wormwood.
• Clematis must be constantly examined for disease and pest settlement. The leaves need to be examined from all sides, as some problems occur on the underside of the leaf.
• Not every flower and garden culture can be a neighbor of this amazing vine. Marigolds and calendula, coriander and parsley, garlic and marigolds can be located next to clematis.
• Do not forget to add Fundazol under the root 2 times a year.

For information on how to deal with chlorosis in clematis, see the next video.