Clematis Care

CARING FOR YOUR CLEMATIS
Once clematis are established they take very little effort to keep them in good condition. Aside from pruning, a good mulch of well-rotted manure in spring will look after them most of the time.

A more detailed calendar of activity for clematis care follows below.

SPRING

PRUNE
Pruning will encourage healthier growth and more flowers. Click on 'Pruning Clematis' from the left-hand menu.

FEED
The best is a mulch of well-rotted compost 50cm (20in) or so around the base of the plant. Where you have no compost, dig a good couple of handfuls of bonemeal into the top soil around the plant.

SUMMER

CONTAINERS
Feed with tomato plant fertiliser and water plants in containers. If you let the soil dry out this will seriously increase the risk of disease.

TRAIN SHOOTS
Tie in new shoots to the support to prevent the plants getting tangled and spread their growth evenly.

WATER YOUNG PLANTS
Water young plants if conditions become dry in their first year.

TAKE CUTTINGS
Clematis will root better if the cuttings are taken in June. Click on 'propagating clematis' from the left hand menu for more details.

AUTUMN

COLLECT SEEDS
During autumn, many seed heads will be ripe enough to harvest and sow. Click on 'propagating clematis' from the left-hand menu for more details.

PLANT NEW CLEMATIS
This is a good time to plant new clematis. The soil will still be warm but also moist - ideal conditions for new clematis. Click on 'planting clematis' from the left-hand menu for more details.

WINTER

PROTECT FROM FROST
If you have any particularly tender clematis in containers, put them in shelter at times of frost.

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Name: Hope
E-mail: hope_nicholson@yahoo.com
Date posted: June 01, 2011 - 07:36 pm
Message: I have a white clematis with lovely big flowers but some insect? also enjoys them - any advice?

Name: Nelly
E-mail: Ronnell59@aol.com
Date posted: September 30, 2010 - 06:40 pm
Message: I got my first clemates this early summer. We live in Alaska and was wondering if anybody could tell me how to keep it over the winter. I have the clemates in a big pot. We already had frost and is in the 30's right now.