Clematis Plant Looking Brown? Don't Add Water.

A lot of us have been having damp or humid summers and while a little water is great, too much dampness for too long can cause all kinds of problems. Even the seemingly carefree plants, like clematis, can start acting up. Problems that take hold in June really start showing symptoms in July, so keep a close eye on your plants. If your clematis was blooming fine and now the stems & leaves are starting to look brown, it's probably not because they need more water. It could very easily be a case of clematis wilt, a fungus disease that loves damp foliage and humid weather. The good news is that it doesn’t attack the clematis roots. The bad news is that all affected portions will need to be cut back. Here are some tips for avoiding and controlling clematis wilt.

Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc..