[needyloser]

Early winter is upon us in my region (no snow but some early morning frosts).

This summer I started the following plants: (1) Seedless White Grape; (2) Clematis; (3) Butterfly Plants; (4) Rose of Sharons.

(1) I have the seedless grape on a frame where it will catch the morning sun and some in the evening. It did OK this summer. Question: Should I wrap the base of the vine with something and mulch?

(2) The children gave the clematis for Mother's Day. I built a trellis for it to vine on and planted it at the base in Miracle Grow soil. It catches morning sun for about three hours and the rest of the day brite but no direct sun. It didn't grow or bloom at all this summer. What should I do with it?

(3) Someone told me that I should prune the butterfly plants at ground level this fall. That doesn't sound right -- What should I do with them?

(4) The Rose of Sharons did OK this summer. One had a bloom on it. They seem to be dormant now, and are mulched. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[wildcatgirl]

I know this may sound somewhat disgusting, but my grandfather used to grow grapes and he always placed a bunch of manure around them every winter. He would place enough to cover the soil at the base of the vines about 6 inches. If you don't have access to manure, you could always take a 5 gallon bucket and start a compost heap in it. I put everything in my compost from left overs to banana peels. You can also add spaghnum peat moss. Grape vines like high acid soil and the compost helps protect their roots in the winter. When spring comes back, you can then carefully turn the soil and compost together around the roots.
As far as the clematis, they love sun. I have had a lot of luck with clematis vines. But, they need sun at least half of the day. I have had good luck with clematis in all soil types also, but I always add a bit of the moss to the soil when I plant them because it helps the soil retain water in the long dry summer months.
I haven't heard of a butterfly plant before, this one is new to me. But, it would all depend if it grows from a bulb or tuber or grows from roots. If it is a bulb or tuber, I usually trim mine down to about 4 inches from the ground. I have bleeding hearts which grow from roots and those can be taken all the way down to the soil. I have found that tubers and bulbs are more productive if they have a little bit of leaf left on them in the winter.
Roses should be trimmed back in the winter no more than 6 inches from the ground and they prefer to be in acidic soil also. I usually do the same with roses as with the grape vines. But, in the spring, I turn bone meal in with the compost. They love it.