How to Grow Clematis
The word clematis comes from the Greek word “klema”, which translates as “climbing”. Clematis are originally from northern regions, which make them perfect plants to grow in cool parts of the USA and UK.
Types of Clematis
There are over 405 different varieties of clematis, each with their own requirements, growth habits and colors. It is important to pick the best variety for your garden so that you have the best chance of growing a beautiful plant. When choosing what variety of clematis you want to grow, you must consider the size of the area you have available.
If you want to cover an entire wall with clematis plants then we suggest the Clematis Montana, which is a low maintenance plant that blooms in late springtime and gives off a spectacular burst of color. Alternatively, you can choose the Clematis Huldine, which can grow up to 16 feet in height. This plant gives off a nice, light aroma.
If you only want to cover a small area of your garden or a small part of a wall or fence then there are many different varieties of clematis to choose from. Some of the most popular are ‘The President’ and the ‘Nelly Moser’, both of which are beautiful plants.
Planning the Site
Clematis grow very well on fences, trellis and up walls. The main thing to consider is the height of the plant and the strength of the support it is growing against.
Support Structure
Clematis plants are light in weight and do not need an overly strong support. It is a good idea to make your own support or use a wooden or plastic trellis purchased from your local garden store. You could also plant them next to a wall or fence. It is important to plant them slightly away from the wall – about 18 inches, so that the roots can receive a good amount of water from the soil.
If you do not provide anything for the clematis to grow against then it will just grow all over the place and be unattractive.
Planting Clematis
The great thing about clematis plants is that they will look after themselves once they are established in the ground. Clematis can be planted all year round in moist soil. The best time to plant would be in late autumn or the middle of springtime. Because clematis plants like the conditions around their roots to be cool and moist, it is important to water well during the first months after planting.
You should plant the clematis about 6 inches below ground level, which will encourage new shoots to grow from the bottom of the plant.
Use a well-rotted soil with a mixture of manure, remembering to keep the soil moist at the beginning stages. Once you have planted the clematis, you can encourage new growth by cutting the stems just above where there are healthy leaf buds, around 11 inches from the ground.
Pruning
Clematis come in 3 groups: group 1, group 2 and group 3. Group 1 clematis need to be pruned lightly immediately after flowering or if not, they should be left to flower on the previous years growth. You should remove only the dead and untidy stems and cut them just above a leaf bud that is still alive.
Clematis from groups 2 and 3 will usually flower later on after the middle of summer. They flower with new growth and so it is important that you prune them in February to let them grow before the flowering season. You must cut back all the stems so that they are 12-14 inches from the ground, always cutting just above a leaf bud. If they are not pruned then they will keep growing and the flowers will appear too high up. The only way to make it then look good is to turn the stems so they are facing towards the ground; this can look out of place with overly long stems. This is why pruning in February is always recommended.
Watering
It is important not to let the roots dry out during growth; lack of moisture will do the most harm to your plants. To ensure that you marvel at your beautiful clematis plants, you should water well and provide shade on very hot days.