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Clematis care and conditions
Meomye
Posts: 949
I have often seen some amazing specimens of Clematis on the forum and as I have two ready to go into the garden (apologies, lost labels) I wondered if there are any tips re planting, when/where, feeding, watering etc you could give me? I have tried a few times previously with little success. I have had theses two from when they were small and potted on to get them established at least 1/2 years ago. tia
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Most clematis should be planted deep, at least 2" deeper than when they were in the pot. When I plant them I dig compost and blood, fish and bone into the ground first. Then water well. They don't like to dry out and they like being fed and mulched. They like their bottoms shaded. I plant them with perennials in front. If you are planting next to a fence or wall then don't plant them too close. There is always a dry bit at the bottom of walls.
Most like to climb tho not all self cling so you'll need a support on which to train the stems as horizontallly or diagonally as possible to encourage healthy growth and flowers. Some, like the group 1s, flower over winter or in early spring so should only be pruned after flowering finishes and to keep them in bounds until they're old enough to need some renovation pruning.
Group 2s are the ones that have a first flush of often double flowers in May and June on old stems. These can be pruned after flowering finishes to remove dead heads and any damaged or dead stems. If you feed them then they'll produce a secon flush of flowers in late summer. You can, howevre, treat these as group 3s once established and prune them hard in spring. They will then produce one,longer flush of flowers over summer.
Group 3s usually flower thru July, August and September on new wood. The can have large or medium open flowers but also smaller double flowers and some have bell shaped flowers. Plant vigour varies too with some only getting to about 2m but others anything between 3 and 7m.
If you really have no idea whuch ones your are @Meomye I suggest you plant them well and keep them watered and fed thru this first growing season in the ground and then observe their habit and flowers so you can try and identify them on this website - https://clematisontheweb.org/new-clemlistsearch.cfm - or post photos here and see if we can help.
As @Obelixx says - the smaller, early ones are different from the larger flowered, later ones in their requirements. Planting them too deep is a real no no, especially if you have moisture retentive soil.
The shade thing is a myth - it's a cool root run they need. That's why good prep of the soil, and correct watering until established is important, so that they can get those roots down deep, and can then cope with drier spells. Manure [well rotted] at the base of planting holes is a good idea as the roots can get down into that, and benefit from it really well. Any extra feeding should stop once they're in flower too.
Avoiding planting those larger ones too close to walls/fences is a good idea so that they're not in a rain shadow, especially if they aren't in the face of the prevailing weather.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
If you would prefer it from someone who might be considered authoritative, although I don't always like the way he gardens, but Monty Don said the same thing on last Friday's Gardener's World, where he planted a gr. 1 Clematis..
If you can watch this, it's 43 minutes in..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001k3w5/gardeners-world-2023-episode-1?page=1
I knew I'd also read something similar recently, and it was when I was looking for a clematis for the back fence and couldn't decide on an early one or a later one.
It was here:
https://www.thorncroftclematis.co.uk/atragene-spring-flowering
It's far too wet here for them to grow easily, so with raised beds, really good drainage, and a bit of effort, I can grow quite a few. The koreanas are still a waste of time, but alpinas and macropetalas are fine with some competition from other plants, and/or those restricted raised beds where they don't get permanently soaked. Right up against the fence or wall also helps. In the clay soil in a standard bed/border, they can't cope, even when the soil's improved considerably.
Maybe it's easier to have them deeper if you live in a consistently dry part of the country.
I do the same with peonies because they struggle otherwise. They're planted much higher than many other people would plant them.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They'd be ideal to grow here but, perversely, I haven't found a supplier. Yet.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border