May is the best time to plant clematis in the garden. By mid-summer, they will turn any support into a living waterfall of large flowers. Success lies in the details: everything is decided by proper planting and understanding of one important feature of their roots.
What is important to know:
- Choose a bright place, but protect the root collar from direct sun. Without shelter near the ground, the plant weakens and gets sick more often.
- The soil should be loose and nutritious. Clematis do not tolerate stagnant water, so be sure to add drainage from small crushed stone or broken brick.
- Buy seedlings with a closed root system and living shoots. When planting, be sure to deepen the base of the bush by 8–12 cm – this is the key to lush tillering.
How to plant:
- Dig a hole measuring 60×60 cm and lay a 10 cm thick layer of drainage at the bottom.
- Form a mound in the center from a mixture of soil, compost and ash, position the seedling so that the buds are below ground level.
- Cover the roots with the prepared mixture, without compacting it too much, and pour plenty of settled water.
- Mulch the tree trunk with bark or dry grass so that the roots do not overheat and moisture is retained longer.
The first flowering will appear this season, but the plant will show its full scope in the second year. Regular watering and timely staking and the vine will delight you with bright caps from June until the autumn cold.
Question and answer:
When to plant clematis?
Spring planting before active sap flow begins or immediately after the soil warms up gives the plant time to get stronger before winter. Autumn planting is permissible only in warm regions, where there is at least a month left before stable frosts.
Watering regime in the first month?
In the first four weeks, moisten the soil once a week by pouring 10–15 liters of water under each bush. In hot weather, the frequency is increased up to two times, strictly avoiding moisture on the leaves and stems.
