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1011
N. Woodlawn
Kirkwood, Missouri
63122
314-965-3070
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When shopping for
clematis, look for a plant that is full with many stems. It may or
may not be tall, but the fullness of the plant is what’s important.
If you tip the pot over and gently pull the plant out, the roots
should be showing, which represents a mature, strong root system.
Clematis prefer full sun to part shade, but there is room for
experimentation. If you have a spot where you would love to put a
clematis but aren’t sure if the exposure is quite right, try it!
Picking a trellis
When choosing your structure, make sure you have supports they can
twine around, with a diameter 1/4” or smaller.
Cool roots
Clematis like “cool roots,” which means they do better with some
protective covering around the base of the plant. You can use
rocks, groundcovers, like Creeping Jenny, or a thick layer of
mulch. Mulch will not only help keep roots cool, but will help
retain moisture — but keep it several inches away from the plant, to
avoid the fungal disease clematis wilt.
Moist, well-drained soil
How can soil be moist and well drained at the same time? The key
here is organic matter. Amending your hole with compost will help
create a texture of soil that is moist, but doesn’t hold water, like
a swamp. For clay soils, consider adding turface, a soil
conditioner that resembles kitty litter, and compost. Make sure the
planting hole is big enough to allow water to run off the roots.
Digging the hole
Most herbaceous perennials need only a depth of 12” of amended
soil. Because clematis need to be planted deeper, and we want to
force the roots to grow to lower levels than other plants, we may
want to dig and amend soils to a depth of 16-18”. If amending a
whole bed isn’t an option, make your hole as wide as you can without
disturbing established plants.
Planting
Water down the hole prior to planting to help flush out air
pockets. Place the crown of the plant around 2” deeper than soil
level. Add the backfill. Water in again.
Water
Stick your finger in the soil before you water. One to two times a
week, depending on heat and amount of rain, give the plant a good
thorough drink: this means at least 10 to 15 minutes of a medium to
weak stream of water coming out of your hose. Do not walk around
your yard sprinkling foliage here and there and think that you have
watered. Foliage does not take in water. Roots take in water. In
the heat of a St. Louis summer, you may need to do this several
times a week.
Fertilizing
According to the American Clematis Society, clematis like low dose
fertilizers such as bone meal or an all purpose fertilizer, around
3-12-12. Most importantly, do fertilize. Clematis are heavy
feeders, requiring food for those big showy flowers.
The pruning groups
Group 1
Generally the early-flowering cultivars. These plants bloom off of
old wood. The only time to prune is immediately after they flower,
simply containing them to their allotted space and removing any dead
wood. Timing is crucial; the plants need to be able to put on new
growth for next year’s blooms.
Group 2
Most cultivars fall into this group. They generally bloom off of old
and new wood, and they usually have two successions of blooms. The
first flush of blooms will come in May or June, and then again in
September or August. Prune in early March. A rule of thumb is to
take off one half of the previous year’s growth or contain them to
their allotted space. Also remove any dead wood. Dead heading the
plant after the first flush of blooms can help encourage a strong
second bloom.
Group 3
These are generally the later flowering cultivars, which bloom on
current year’s shoots. Prune these hard in March. These need to be
taken back to the ground.
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