Carefully remove the clematis from the pot and set the root ball into the hole. Short and to the point, but covered all the bases.". Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. You may feed regularly with a general fertilizer to encourage more vigorous growth. I'm planting my clematis this weekend. Clematis flowers come in an enormous range of shapes and colors, from pink blooms that span 6 inches across to drooping blue bells to starry white flowers. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. unlocking this expert answer. Plant the clematis root ball 3 to 4 inches deep in well-drained soil that has been amended with lots of organic material, such as compost. You should keep this in mind when choosing a spot for them. These spectacular flowering vines can add eye-catching color and interest to the summer garden, but they do require some specific care. The Pruning Answer Book has all the solutions to all of your pruning questions. So I strolled over to the clematis forum to see if I could find information about how to grow them from bare roots. ", "Great article. Can I plant Jackman clematis in a cold, winter climate? It originated in southern Europe and western Asia and is adapted to a hot climate. Offer support to climbing varieties, such as a trellis, fence, post, etc. After planting it, cut the vine back to one foot tall—this will encourage branching. Look for a spot with low-growing perennials and groundcover that will shade the roots of the clematis but allow it to grow into full sun about 3 or 4 inches off of the ground. For tips from our gardening reviewer on caring for your clematis, read on! Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 138,231 times. ", gorgeous blooms, to my great surprise! asked Aug 3, 2013 by anonymous | 244 views. This article has been viewed 138,231 times. This article received 16 testimonials and 90% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. I need someone, "I've wanted to grow clematis for years, but had no clue. Be sure the support you provide isn't too wide for the leaf stems to reach around. ", Unlock this expert answer by supporting wikiHow. % of people told us that this article helped them. It covered it all the way to the top. References Will it bloom again in the spring? Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Can my clematis be left in the pot for the winter? What is the best time of year to plant a clematis? wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Italian Clematis (C. viticella) The Italian clematis grows 10 to 12 feet and blooms July to September. Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? I fertilized it in the Spring with compost manure that comes in a bag. We need to put in a concrete sidewalk but don't want to disturb the roots of the Clematis. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. I am preparing to plant my first couple of, "It helped me with planting the clematis plants. It's the clematis that I thought it's dead. "I didn't know that you have to keep the roots cool or that the plant needs six hours of sun. I thought they were, "Great step-by-step guide for planting and taking care of clematis! If you want to plant clematis, choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight each day, with well-drained soil that doesn’t have standing water after a heavy rain. Well, I forgot all about it. Consider searching for a smaller variety of clematis if you do not have the room larger varieties need to thrive. Do I add soil to bring my clematis to ground level and then mulch, or do I add 3-4" of mulch to bring it to ground level? Water weekly for the first season, to help the plant get established. If you're working with soil that tends to be clay heavy (slow to drain), dig the hole a few inches deeper than you normally would.