Planting clematis in 7 steps

If you have decided on one or more clematis , the next step is planting them. In this guide we show you how to plant your clematis correctly in 7 easy steps.

Planting clematis: the right time

The planting season for clematis runs all year round, from early spring to late autumn. The best time to plant a clematis is from late summer until the first onset of winter - at that point the freshly planted clematis find a soil temperature that encourages root growth.

In general, clematis are not very sensitive when it comes to planting time - if you have bought a flowering clematis in spring or summer, you can and should put it in the ground as soon as possible.

1. Planting clematis: the right soil

The soil for all clematis should be permeable, deep and not acidic. Even before planting, a little organic soil activator can be mixed in.

2. Planting clematis: finding a suitable location

At the roots, clematis love shade, while the flowering part above ground can stand in full sun to partial shade. The ideal location for clematis is therefore on east- or west-facing sides.

The planting spot should be in front of walls, near climbing supports such as obelisks, free-standing trellises, fences, roses or other shrubs - most clematis need something to hold on to. Planted freely in the bed, the clematis will grow creeping and cover the ground around it - which may well be intended, too.

3. Planting clematis: preparation

'Sorting' the clematis
Many clematis arrive in a pot with one or more canes on which the young plant was supported during cultivation. Especially with twining varieties this can become a problem: they often twine not only around this provisional support but also around their own shoots.

If you are about to plant a non-twining clematis or a herbaceous clematis, you often do not have this problem at all.

While the plant is still in the pot, you should first take a deep breath and calmly free the individual leaf axils from the cane or from other shoots. This is sometimes not for the faint-hearted, but with a little time and calm even beginners succeed.

If something kinks or snaps in the process, leave it on the plant for the time being - as long as it is still connected to the rest of the plant.

Tip: You can of course avoid this by planting the clematis together with the support that is in the pot. After a few weeks or months, once the shoots have become woody and have grown beyond it, it can often be pulled out upwards quite easily. However, if the clematis has become entangled in itself, you are only postponing the problem to a later point - by which time it has usually become even more drastic.

Taking it out of the pot
Once that is done, the clematis can be taken out of the pot. Then you should carefully loosen the root system by hand, if possible without damaging the roots.

4. Planting clematis: observe the correct planting depth

Depending on the botanical group, clematis are planted at different depths. The correct planting depth is usually given on the plant label.

If you no longer have it, you can also find it in our web shop or by searching the internet. Once you know how deep your clematis is to be planted, you should definitely keep to this in the further steps.

5. Planting clematis: preparing the planting hole

If you have not done so yet, dig a hole deep enough for the planting depth you have determined at the spot where the clematis is to be planted. You can use the pot to get an idea of whether you have already dug deep enough. Deep enough here means that the hole should be 10-15 cm deeper than strictly necessary.

The diameter should be at least 8-10 cm around the root ball. If you want to set supporting elements such as bamboo canes or simple metal frames at the time of planting, make it correspondingly larger.

Once the hole has the right dimensions for your project, loosen the base crosswise a little with the spade. This makes it easier for the plant to establish itself and form roots.

6. Planting clematis: setting the clematis in the ground

Now place the clematis in the middle of the planting hole and make sure it sits at least as deep as required. As long as the planting depth is not yet right, add more soil to the planting hole step by step and carefully lift the clematis so that the added soil can get under the root ball. 

Tip: If you have decided on an artificial climbing support for the clematis, in the form of a bamboo pyramid or obelisks anchored in the ground or similar, you can now place it in the planting hole at the desired spot. 

Once the plant and, if applicable, the support are at the right depth, the hole is filled with soil all around and the soil is repeatedly firmed by pressing at the edges until the hole is completely filled with soil level with the ground.

7. Planting clematis: after planting

Depending on how large your clematis already is, you can lay it against the intended support or carefully tie it on. Light tying is especially recommended in windy locations to avoid wind damage. 

In any case, it should be watered well directly after planting and in the following days. 

If a mishap occurred while handling the plant and shoots were bent or broken, wholly or partly, there is no cause for concern. It is best to wait 2-3 days and cut out only those shoots that have gone limp by then, back to one leaf axil below the kink or break. If this is at the base of the plant, cut right there. As a rule, the clematis will sprout fresh again.

Planting clematis: in a container

Before you get started - if you have not done so yet - we generally recommend that you also read our general notes on clematis in containers.

If you do not want to plant your clematis freely but in a container, the procedure hardly differs. Strictly speaking, you can regard the container as the planting hole - with the difference that, of course, it does not have to be dug.

A clematis in a container must always be supported by something, unless it is meant to grow hanging. It is best to attach this support directly when planting in the container - which of course must also be sized accordingly.

Too much light at the base should also be avoided; covering with potsherds or underplanting in containers with enough space is sufficient.

Particular attention should also be paid to putting a drainage layer of gravel, stones or potsherds into the pot. This is put in about 5-8 cm high before the soil goes into the pot. 

 

Once the clematis is planted and established, you should prune and fertilise it correctly in the coming years.