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There's nothing more spectacular than a clematis in full bloom. Who doesn't dream of trellises covered with vibrant-red or rich-purple flowers in late spring? Even as the blooms fade, they leave spidery seedheads. And fall just wouldn't be perfect without sweet autumn clematis' intoxicating fragrance.
But how do you get your clematis to grow lush and beautiful? Follow these six simple steps!
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1 Start with the soil
If your soil is on the acid side, add some agricultural lime. But if it's already alkaline, don't add lime — you can overdo it. A pH of 7 to 7.5 is just right.
Dig the hole 18 inches deep and wide like the one in the illustration. Work in lots of compost. Set young plants deeply with the first two sets of leaf nodes underground. This encourages plants to send up more stems so you'll have a thicker plant.
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2 Mulching matters
"Head in the sun, feet in the shade" is old clematis advice. However, a 4-inch layer of mulch keeps the roots cool and moist just as well as shade does. To prevent stem rot, keep the mulch about 8 inches from the stems.
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3 Making the cut
The best place to prune a stem is just above two strong buds. The illustration at right shows how you can spot them — where two leaves were growing the previous year. These buds will quickly develop into new vines.
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4 Recognize disease quickly
Clematis wilt is easy to spot: A portion of your vine wilts quickly, often just as the plant starts to bloom. Wilt is caused by a fungus that enters the stem, usually just above the soil line. There is no cure other than to immediately cut the entire stem to the ground and dispose of it in the trash. That'll prevent spores from moving to other stems. Systemic fungicides can help prevent wilt from spreading to healthy stems. Apply benomyl or carbendazim to vines immediately after you remove infected portions. Read the package label for specific application information. The rest of the plant usually survives, providing there are enough other healthy stems. That's another reason to plant clematis deeply: If a stem becomes infected and has to be removed, more will come from the base to replace it.
Cultivars that have proven resistant to wilt include 'The President', 'Ville de Lyon', 'Nelly Moser', 'Betty Corning' and 'Jackmanii'.
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5 Serve a balanced diet
Clematis like to be well fed, but not overfed. Feed your clematis once a year right after pruning with an all-purpose, granulated fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10.
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6 Choose the right trellis
Clematis climb by twisting petioles, or leaf stems. If your structure is too large, the leaf can't wrap around it. Nylon fishing line is a great way to get a clematis to climb a light pole or arbor post. See the small knot in the photo at right? Tie one of those every foot or so to keep the vine from sliding.
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