I posted the following on the clematis forum at gardenweb.com. Let’s see what the experts tell me.

‘Ville de Lyon’ questions – root competition, etc.Posted by stevation z6 Utah (My Page) on Wed, Mar 8, 06 at 13:44

I am an experienced gardener, but not with Clematis. Two years ago, I planted two bare-root Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’ next to a trellis/arbor that leads to my backyard. I’m not sure they’re doing well, and I have several questions. The first year, they didn’t grow much, and I expected that. The second year, having read that that they are in pruning group 3, I cut them back to a pair of buds about 8″ from the ground, but they only grew about as much as the first year, and I only had maybe two VERY stunted tiny little flowers on one of them and none on the other.Questions:
1. Do clematis have a hard time competing with tree roots? On one side of the arbor is a river birch, the base only about four feet away from the clematis. Could that be robbing the clematis of nutrients and stunting its growth? That spot also gets light shade from the tree. On the other side of the arbor is a golden rain tree (Koelreuteria) also about four feet away.

2. Do clematis do OK in western alkaline soils? I’m in Utah, and the soil can be a challenge that way.

3. What kind of fertilizing regimen should I use? I don’t think I fertilized them at all last year, and maybe that’s my only problem.

I checked on them the other day, and there are a few small green shoots coming out from the roots, so I know they’re still alive. If the trees are a problem for them, I could transplant them, but I’d love to keep them where they are if they’ll grow there.

Thanks!