Clematis is a climbing plant that produces extraordinary blue, purple, pink, yellow and white flowers throughout the summer and fall. Some cultivars can grow up to 20 meters in height and live for over 80 years. Clematis, in order to grow vigorously, require the blooms to be in full sun while the roots will need to be in shade.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Planting the Clematis
Step 1. Choose a Clematis cultivar
Clematis are present with flowers of different shapes and colors, from large pink flowers over 15 cm to blue bellflowers and star-shaped white flowers. Having become popular in recent years, many nurseries offer dozens of varieties to choose from. Before choosing one cultivar over another, carefully consider the color, shape of the flowers and the required planting position, especially in relation to the sun. Clematis often flower after several years, so consider buying a one- or two-year potted plant. Here is a list of the most common clematis cultivars:
- Clematis vitalba: has scented panicle inflorescences, composed of small cream flowers with a diameter of 1-2 cm.
- Clematis viticella: widespread spontaneously in Italy, it reaches 4 m in height. It has saucer flowers with 4 or more large blue to red petals.
- Clematis alpina: has pendulous and solitary flowers composed of 4 sepals, usually on blue or pink.
- Clematis montana: it is a large climber that can reach 10 m in height. It bears small but very abundant 5-6 cm flowers composed of white to pink sepals and evident yellow stamens.
- Clematis jackmanii: climber with dark green leaves with numerous purple to purple flowers. They usually bear 4 sepals and are about 10 cm in diameter.
- Clematis texensis: native to Texas, it can reach 4 m in height. It is not very rustic. It produces solitary, pendulous flowers usually on red or scarlet.
Step 2. Choose a sunny location
Clematis come in different varieties in shape and size, but they all have very similar needs when it comes to direct sun exposure and temperatures. They are resistant plants which however need to be exposed for at least 6 hours a day in full sun.
- Clematis do not fear the cold, also because during the winter they tend to completely lose the aerial part.
- Some varieties of clematis also grow in partial shade, but they do not reach their full potential if they are not placed in full sun for at least 6 hours a day.
- Look for a spot among the low-growing perennials in your garden that can provide shade for your clematis's roots and foot. The aerial part, starting from 3/4 cm from the ground, must grow in full sun. Clematis to grow well needs fresh roots and full sun on the plant and flowers; if you can't find a spot that provides ground-level shading, wait before planting it or use mulch around the roots and foot of the clematis to keep the roots cool.
- You can plant clematis near the base of a shrub or small tree. It will grow without damaging the branches of the shrub.
Step 3. Choose a place where the soil drains well
The soil where you place clematis shouldn't be so dry that it won't retain moisture, but it should drain water well enough and avoid stagnation around the roots. To check if the soil in an area is draining well, dig a hole and fill it with water. If the water drains immediately, the soil is sandy; if the water is not absorbed, the soil has too much clay, and it does not drain fast enough; if the water is slowly but steadily absorbed by the soil, then it is the suitable soil for clematis.
Step 4. Determine the pH level of the soil
Clematis prefer neutral or alkaline rather than acidic soil. If you do a test and determine that the pH is a little too acidic, soften the soil by mixing lime or wood ash.
Step 5. Dig a hole and enrich the soil
Dig a hole several inches deeper than the height of the clematis pot, so that when planted, the soil reaches up to the first set of leaves. Before planting clematis, modify the soil by adding compost and granular organic fertilizer: this will allow the plant to have enough nutrients to develop in the first few months.
If you have soil that tends to be clayey (meaning it absorbs water slowly), dig the hole a few inches deeper. If, on the other hand, the soil is sandy (drains quickly), make a slightly shallower hole: this will allow the roots of the plant, which will be closer to the surface, to have more water
Step 6. Plant the clematis
Gently remove the plant from the pot, being careful not to tear or break the roots and shoots. Place the sod in the hole you made earlier in the ground and press it around the base of the stem. The soil should reach up to the first set of leaves; if not, lift the sod and dig the hole a little deeper. Place a support on which the young clematis can grow.
Step 7. Mulch around the roots
Place 10 cm of straw or other type of mulch around the base of the clematis to keep the roots cool. It is also possible to plant low-growing perennials whose leaves will shade the clematis roots all summer long.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Clematis
Step 1. Water the clematis well
Water the clematis for a long time whenever the soil appears dry. To check if it's dry, stick a finger in the soil then remove it. If the soil is dry, it's time to water the clematis.
- Don't water clematis too often; since the roots are in the shade, water can stagnate for a long time and damage the roots.
- Water in the morning, rather than the evening, so that the water has time to absorb before night falls.
Step 2. Provide clematis support
Clematis will not grow if it does not have a vertical structure to cling to. During the first year, the support provided by the nursery will be sufficient for the needs of the plant, but from the second year it will be necessary to equip the plant with a larger support, such as a grating or a pergola, to facilitate its growth.
- The thin tendrils of clematis attach themselves to walls, thin branches, grids, or twine. Check that the chosen support is not too large in diameter and that the tendrils can hook it easily. Normally it should be within 1-2 cm in diameter.
- If you have a trellis or pergola made from large pieces of wood, place (height-wise) fishing line to form a thin enough support for the clematis to cling to.
- As the plant grows, it can be held in place by tying it with nylon fishing line.
Step 3. Fertilize the clematis
Every 4/6 weeks, fertilize clematis with 10-10-10 fertilizer or place compost around the foot of the plant. It needs a lot of nutrients to be able to grow strong and produce abundant flowers.
Part 3 of 3: Prune the Clematis
Step 1. Eliminate dry or damaged parts at any time
Clematis is not a plant prone to pest attack, but it can be affected by a fungal disease that can cause its death. If you have a dry or withered stem, use a clean pair of scissors to cut it off. During the pruning operations, regularly disinfect the scissors in a solution of bleach, so as not to spread the disease to other parts of the plant.
Step 2. Prune the oldest branches
Since flowering becomes less abundant after 4 years of age, older branches can be cut back to encourage the growth of new ones. Wait until the first flowering of the season is complete, then use a clean pair of scissors to remove the stems and dead branches.
Step 3. Carry out annual pruning according to the needs of the cultivar
Clematis requires annual pruning to encourage the growth of new stems. However, different cultivars require pruning at different times of the year. It is therefore important to know exactly when to prune your clematis, otherwise you risk damaging the plant.
- They bloom in spring on the branches of the previous year and in autumn on the branches grown after the first flowering. It is necessary to proceed with the pruning in spring (waiting for the plant to begin to vegetate) coming down from the top and cut to the first vigorous bud. We will proceed in the same way after the first flowering.
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They bloom in early spring, with small, abundant flowers.
To this group belong the clematis alpina, montana and the evergreens (armandii). Normally they do not need to be pruned but just want to be cleared of any dry branches.
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They bloom on new branches.
This group includes late-flowering clematis, those that bloom towards summer and autumn: clematis viticella, textensis, jackmaniii, florida. They should be pruned in spring starting from the bottom, drastically, looking for the first two vigorous buds and cutting above them.
