Clematis is a plant that can be guided to climb wherever you want. It is known for being the "queen of creepers" in the garden for its ability to liven up anonymous structures, such as walls and fences, even 3-6 meters upwards. The idea of growing this plant might intimidate you a little, but with the right care and attention you can have the creeper of your dreams.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare the Garden
Step 1. Choose the location to place the Clematis
This plant needs six hours of sunshine a day to grow well, so look for a well-exposed area. As for root health, the soil must be well-draining, moist with a neutral or slightly alkaline pH.
Balance the acidic soil by "softening" it regularly with wood ash or a little lime
Step 2. Purchase plant supports
It is a climbing species that naturally grows upwards instead of spreading like most traditional ones; to allow it to reach its maximum height, you need to provide support.
- Wire meshes are hardly visible structures that can be used for this purpose; attach them to something already in the garden, using staples or zip ties to keep them from falling out over the years as the Clematis grows.
- Consider installing garden supports, such as pergolas, which embellish and make the garden elegant while providing the plant with a support to climb on. Add some wire mesh between the ground and the top rung of the pergola to help young Clematis grow upward easily.
- Allow it to cling to a brick wall by planting it close to it. Buy some wire to help her reach the wall and "climb" the structure over time.
- The trellis is a common solution for gardens, it also often proves to be an inexpensive and easy to manage alternative.
Step 3. Choose the right variety for your garden
If you have space available, the cultivar that reaches 3-6 m in height is the one for you; if the garden is small or you plan to keep the plant in pots, there are more compact varieties. The flowers of a classic Clematis bloom reaching a diameter of 12-15 cm.
- There are many varieties with flowers of different sizes and colors, such as white, dark red, lavender, purple and even yellow.
- Given that the climber can take years to reach maturity, it is advisable to buy plants that are already two years old to reduce waiting times; opt for those specimens sold in one-liter containers and which have a sturdy stem.
Method 2 of 3: Plant the Clematis
Step 1. Prepare a hole in the ground
As a reference, use the dimensions of the pot in which the plant is kept; the hole must have a width and depth of approximately 45 cm.
- Make the hole in the center of the fence or wall to give the plant a support to grow on.
- If you find that the soil is not well draining, consider making a larger hole.
Step 2. Mix the soil with compost and a good organic fertilizer
Pour a generous amount of this mixture into the hole; enriching the soil with fertilizer and with the humidity of the compost facilitates the development of Clematis by offering it a fresh place to grow.
Step 3. Prepare the Clematis to be buried
As with any plant, you must necessarily wet it before transferring it; this step is particularly important with Clematis because its roots need a lot of water to stay fresh and grow. Prepare it by watering it a lot.
Step 4. Take the plant out of the pot
Push it up from the bottom and slide it sideways into your free hand; do not yank it by the stem or the support stick that is in the pot.
- If you are having difficulty, gently roll the pot half a turn on the ground while squeezing it lightly to loosen the root ball from the inner walls.
- Gently handle the roots. Most of these are found in the lower half of the vessel; if you can't do without it, remove the roots from the container but proceed with extreme caution.
Step 5. Examine the alignment between the plant and the soil
Put the Clematis in the hole, making sure it is 5 cm lower than the surface of the garden; this detail is important to keep the roots fresh. Fill the rest of the hole and cover the top of the root ball with a mixture of compost, soil and fertilizer.
Step 6. Water it thoroughly
If some vines remain exposed as the earth becomes compact, cover them with another mixture of soil; Thoroughly spread some mulch after filling the hole and wetting the plant.
- Mulch helps the soil retain moisture, which is very important for Clematis; you can use mulch, pebbles or pine bark.
- Water new seedlings regularly during the first growing season to start development properly. It can take up to four watering cans per square meter to water Clematis well.
Method 3 of 3: Create a Support
Step 1. Make sure the plant has something to climb on
Clematis develops in height by wrapping the stems of its leaves around an object; it can "climb" structures made with wire, thin branches, steel rods, wooden spines, fishing line or string.
Make sure the surface you choose isn't too big for the stems to wrap; its diameter should not be more than 1, 5 cm
Step 2. Have the Clematis develop on a brick wall using eye screws
These are rather large screws with a ring-shaped head that can be inserted into bricks or into a wall to make a support; once the screws have been inserted, a metal grid is inserted between the various eyelets.
- Fix the stems of the plant to the support of iron wire; you can use zip ties covered with paper, wire or string.
- Check these fastening systems regularly to make sure they are not too tight and do not "strangle" the young vines; loosen them as needed.
Step 3. Arrange the Clematis by growing them on pergolas or barriers
Make sure the area is not overly exposed to wind and rain so that different plant varieties can develop. Prevents the wood from rotting prematurely by treating the base of the structure with a suitable product.
Step 4. Make the Clematis grow along arcs
To make sure the pergola is completely covered, plant two plants (one on each side). Consider using a fragrant strain to delight people walking under the pergola with a sweet fragrance.
Advice
- You can plant Clematis at any time of the year as long as the ground is not frozen; however, the best time is mid or late winter and no later than the first half of spring.
- The main factor in having a healthy, lush and beautiful plant is to feed it correctly. Put a handful of compost and organic fertilizer at the base of it in early spring; provide her with more water-soluble fertilizer once or twice during the growing season.
- Be patient, the plant may take several years to reach full maturity.
