I had a Clematis and it didn't make it. My theory is that I planted it in a place where it only got morning sun. Of course, once it was tall enough, it would have gotten full sun all day long. Anyway, now I have two more that I'm getting ready to plant as soon as last danger of frost is gone by. I'd appreciate any advice on how to make this a successful venture this time. I know I need mulch/protection for the roots and lots of sun for the plant itself. What else?! I live in zone 5a.
Also, is it true that one should cut them right down to the ground every fall?
New to Clematis
Last question first. No, do not ever prune in the fall. It will kill your plant. And it's not all the way down to the ground. About a foot above. In Minnesota I prune in mid April. Not sure about NH, perhaps late March/Early April?? And, not all Clematis get pruned in this manner. Only pruning group 3.
Before you plant your clematis, make sure you've got good soil. People will tell you that you need a lot of compost, but I don't have access to compost, so I amend my beds with a lot of peat. Clematis seem to enjoy the same envionment as roses, so sometimes if I have any left over rose soil, I'll mix that in also.
When you plant your clematis, make sure the noids where the vines form are one to two inches underground. If you plant too shallow, it will eventually kill your plant.
Most Clematis can take a little shade. I have several that don't get sun until the later part of the day and they do just fine. In fact, I don't think I have any Clematis that get full sun. I would say if your clematis died it's because you simply didn't know what needed to be done. Clematis also should be well watered. and periodically, they should be fertilized. You can use the same fertilizer that you would use with roses.
Clematis are perennial, so you don't need to wait until the last frost date, you could plant them now. Don't worry if nothing happens for awhile. I planted one in late June last year and it just sat there for a month before it took off. Also, there's no instant gratification with Clematis. It usually takes three years to get your first good showing. Sometime Clematis are slow to wake up in the spring.
To recap:
1. Know what kind of Clematis you have and which pruning group it belongs in. Google Clematis Culture to read up on the different pruning groups. AT this time, you should also make sure you understand the sun requirements for the plant you've selected.
2. Make sure you have good soil.
3. Plant the noids 1 to 2 inches below ground. Error on too deep rather than too shallow.
4. Keep your Clematis well watered, but don't drown it.
5. Fertilize with a granular rose food.
6. Do not prune a pruning group 3 until spring.
7. Do not prune your Clematis all the way to the ground.
Beaker, what a great answer! The basics of clematis planting and culture. Should be a place in DG for this kind of thing for all plants.
I planted one in the fall of 04 that didn't come up at all last year. I assumed it was dead. It came up this year!!! So water your stick or marker!!!! You never know!.
Debbie
Debbie's right. Sometimes a clematis may look like it's dead and then surprise you a year later. I once had a neighborhood dog who kept lifting his leg on a newly planted peony bush and it looked like it died. Went one whole year without poking up a shoot and then it came back. I was amazed, but it now doesn't surpise me when I hear about clematis doing this.
Thanks so much for all the information! Truly, truly appreciated!
I will keep watering the 'stick' of my "dead" clematis! :-) Maybe I'll have three!!