How to plant a clematis

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PLANTING CLEMATIS

Spring or Fall is a fine time to plant, but as they are container grown, you can plant through summer as well, providing you can water well when needed. Consider the placement of your plant before digging, if against the foundation of a building be sure your hole is at least 12 inches away as soil right against it is usually powdery and very dry. Clematis will not tolerate a single winter if their feet are in standing water, do NOT plant in heavy clay or where water may puddle and keep them more wet than moist, especially before the ground freezes.

Clematis must have a cool and moist root zone, often difficult to achieve because they are planted against buildings where it may be hot and dry. Mulching will help to overcome this, as will planting a low growing plant or shrub nearby to cast shade over the root zone. Rocks can also be placed around the base. Whatever your preference, keep in mind that slugs love wood and concrete slabs, and will likely hide underneath during the day, coming out to feed on your clematis at night!

Clematis are not self clinging, instead they wrap their leaf stalks quickly around whatever they can find. You must provide a climbing support, wire is ideal but wood can be used as well. Don't worry about the support detracting from the effect of your blooming clematis, as the vine will soon cover it completely and it won't be visible at all. Tie stems at intervals in the direction you want them to grow. If planting at the base of a tree or shrub, plant on the north side of the trunk as this is the coolest and least dry, the rest of the vine will make its way to the southern side in no time.

Begin by digging a hole at least 12 inches by 12 inches - remember, this vine will be in your garden for years to come, so give it a good foundation to grow from! You can provide this by mixing a generous amount of peat and a handful or two of sand into the hole, then add a two inch layer of compost or rotted manure to the hole and mix well. Keep adding compost, manure with the original soil back to the hole, mixing well and then throw in a good handful of bonemeal. Do this until the soil level in the hole is up to the point where the top of the pot you are planting is just 2-3 inches from the original ground level. Fill the hole with water and allow it to soak in. Remove your plant from its pot by squeezing the sides and gently tugging the root ball from the pot. Gently tease the roots at the bottom apart before placing in the hole, then replace the rest of the soil, mixing in another handful of bone or bloodmeal and firm it up around the plant. Water it in well, then top with at least 2 inches of mulch.

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