The Clematis
By: Kit Smith
One of my favorite flowering plants in my garden is my
clematis. It is a beautiful attention getter which takes very little care.
There are over 200 species of clematis. The main differences between these
plants involve when the clematis blooms and whether it blooms on old or new
wood. Because clematis can remain undisturbed for years, proper planting can
get your clematis off to a good start and proper care can keep it blooming for
years.
PLANTING - Site selection for clematis
is important. The clematis should be
planted in rich cool well-drained soil with its “head in the sun and feet in
the shade.” Plant them 18–24 inches apart, out of drying winds or direct sun.
Loosen the roots carefully when planting. Typically, the clematis does not have
a large root system, and its shallow roots can be easily damaged. Mulch around
your clematis to keep its roots cool in the summer and insulated from excel
cold during the winter. Consistently water the clematis as the roots store energy for winter.
SUPPORTING - Stake it. Your fast
growing clematis vine will need support as it climbs and wraps its petioles
around the nearest narrow object. The
clematis will entangle itself in its own stems. The clematis is a good plant
for an arbor as it is not a broad reaching plant. Pinch back fast-growing tips
to allow the roots to balance with the top growth and to form a well-furnished
base.
FEEDING - Fertilize your clematis in
fall with compost and with rock phosphate, well-watered in to improve the color
of the blossoms in spring. Don’t fertilize after mid-summer to slow the new
growth and to toughen up the wood that is already there before the cold
arrives. Add lime only where a soil test indicates there is a calcium
deficiency in the soil. The clematis
will bloom 4-5 inch flowers five months after planting, and the flowers will be
followed by fluffy seed pods.
PRUNING - Correct pruning of your
clematis depends upon the species.
If you do not know which type you have, watch it for a year. There are three
different groups of clematis. One group flowers on old wood in spring, another
on spring wood in summer, and the third on spring wood in fall.
The spring
flowering clematis only blooms on old wood. It is very hardy, and you can chop
this one way down to a pair of fat, healthy buds that are about 12 inches from
the ground or 15-20 inches if plant is old and thick. Prune one month after
flowering.
The summer
and fall blooming clematis bloom on spring wood, so they should be pruned
following flowering or in early spring as the buds swell to restrict sprawl,
preserving main branches.
All clematis will bloom, even if you never cut anything. If you should have pruned, but you did not, then the flowers will be smaller and high on the plant. If you pruned too vigorously or you pruned at the wrong time, the plant will recover eventually and may even be stronger in the long run.
You’ll find some tried and true varieties of clematis at our
local nurseries, with more exotic varieties available through mail order and
on-line sources. For more information on
pruning clematis, check out a previous article listed on the Master Gardener
website at http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/616/20705.doc.