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Clematis Care - Planting and care instructions

(Please read before planting)

Clematis are hardy plants which can be planted at any time of the year, provided the ground is not frozen. They will grow in practically any garden situation so long as they are given a cool, moist root run, plenty of water and regular feeding. They are lime-loving plants and do best in a moisture-retaining loam.

To plant in the ground: dig a hole 45x45cms square and 45cms deep (18 inches) or larger if possible. Make sure your planting position is at least 45 cms (18 inches) from the base of the wall or fence where you want your plant to grow. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole and fork in a handful of bonemeal. Then add at least six-inches worth of well-rotted manure or compost. If your soil is good, you can use it to backfill the rest of the hole. If your soil is poor, you will have to use John Innes No3 compost.

Before planting your clematis, make sure the plant has been pre-soaked for at least one hour.

In your planting hole, fill in enough soil or compost to cover the manure, remove the plant from its pot and gently disentangle some of the roots which have been right at the bottom of the pot (this will enable them to quickly take to the surrounding soil). Place the root ball well down in the hole so that a few inches of stem are below soil level. Roots will form on this buried stem and the buds will send up shoots should the stem above ground become damaged.

Keep the cane in place when you are planting. Angle the cane towards the wall or fence where you want your clematis to grow. Before filling in the rest of the hole, it is useful to introduce a length of 2-inch diameter plastic piping which will enable you water and feed the plant directly to its roots. Now fill in the rest of the hole and firm down around the base of the plant. A sprinkling of gravel or pea shingle on the soil surface will help retain moisture.

The first spring after planting, cut back all large-flowering hybrids to the lowest pair of buds, even those varieties that do not need pruning. This should result in a very bushy plant. If the plant continues up on one stem only, pinch out the growing tip once or twice during the summer. This will help to encourage bushy growth and minimise the risk of clematis wilt.

Watering and feeding: clematis like a lot of water and it essential they get a good drink, particularly throughout the summer but also, occasionally, during a dry winter. When the plant is NOT in flower, you should feed it with either Maxicrop or Tomorite, diluted in water and given every two weeks during the growing season. A feed after flowering is recommended, too. Top dress with either well-rotted manure or bonemeal every autumn.

Container grown clematis: follow the same basic rules as above, but with one exception. ALWAYS make sure the compost you use is John Innes No.3 and NOT a multi-purpose product. The more expensive compost contains a high-level of nutrients and will retain moisture. Container-gown clematis MUST be fed regularly and kept well watered.