Is my clematis dead?

[richmondone]

I have a clematis along my fence, but I can't find any buds on it and everything else in my garden is starting to bud. I have snapped off some ends of the climber and they are dry inside. It's a few years old and has grown well. I didn't give it much attention last year because of having a baby!

My questions: is it gone for good and I should just rip it out? Or does it bud late? I thought clematis were quite hard to kill...

[Chasingsquirrels]

I'd leave it a while, it might send shoots up from just underground or it might just be late.
Having said that all mine are shooting away atm.

[BernardsarenotalwaysSaints]

I have one that doesn't shoot until mid/late May depending on the weather. It's then a rampant beasty the whole summer.

[LapdanceShoeshine]

The old growth will be dead, but it should be beginning to bud at the joints. If you can't find any green anywhere it might have had it

(I've got a summer-flowering one, a few years old, in fairly poor condition in a tub; all the old dead growth is still there (I'm a rubbish gardener) but there are big buds sprouting too. & I'm up north! )

[BestIsWest]

I think this most years.

[traviata]

I have a clematis montana which has only just started to show tiny grey-ish green buds. All my others have leaves on the new shoots. I'd give it a few more weeks.

[richmondone]

Thanks all! Will give it another couple of weeks and hope for the best

[Slightlyperturbedowlagain]

It depends how warm the soil is and how much sun it is getting- my garden varies considerably in different spots and it's a small garden. I would leave it another month to check before even thinking about digging it up

[AstrantiaMajor]

I was really tempted to but a cattle prod to zap my DH. So many times I would find him pulling away at 'dead' clematis that were really just dormant. I would wait another month if I were you.

[ring63main]

my clematis started producing shoots early april then came the beast from the east and they all wilted and died. question. is the plant dead or should i wait a bit longer before digging it up. ps i live in the north east

[ring63main]

my clematis started producing shoots early April, then came the beast from the east and they wilted and died, no signs of life yet is the plant dead?or should i give it more time before i condemn it to the grave?

[JT05]

I’d leave it a while longer. Quite a few of my shrubs and plants were set back by the beast, but are putting on new growth or just beginning to bud.
A lot of plants will send up new shoots from the base if the top growth is damaged.

[AnnabelleLecter]

A few of mine go from dead looking sticks to loads of bits of green and then buds in a couple of week.

[ring63main]

Thank you I will give it a bit longer and see what happens