Our Top Tips for Clematis
🌸 Our Top Tips for Growing Beautiful, Healthy Clematis
There’s nothing quite like a clematis in full bloom—its elegant vines and star-shaped flowers can turn any garden into a floral paradise. But to get your clematis thriving, a few simple growing tips can make all the difference. Whether you're planting in a border or a pot, these essential care tips will help your clematis flourish year after year.
Read on for our top clematis growing tips, covering everything from planting depth to feeding and pruning.
🌱 1. Planting Clematis the Right Way
Getting your clematis off to a good start begins with how you plant it. Clematis roots love to be cool and shaded, while the tops like sunshine.
Top planting tip for clematis:
Plant deeply. Bury the crown (where the roots meet the stem) about 2 inches below the soil surface.
Water the planting hole well before placing your clematis. This helps the roots settle quickly and reduces transplant shock.
Add a layer of mulch or low-growing plants around the base to help keep the roots cool and shaded.
This method encourages strong root growth and protects the plant from clematis wilt, a common fungal disease.
🪴 2. Providing Strong Support for Clematis
Clematis are natural climbers but need a little help getting started. Their stems are quite delicate and brittle, especially when young, so proper support is essential.
Best clematis supports include:
Trellis
Garden wires
Obelisks
Arches or pergolas
As soon as new shoots appear in spring, gently tie them in to their support with soft garden twine. This keeps them upright and prevents flopping or snapping, especially in windy weather.
✂️ 3. Pruning for Health and Flower Power
Pruning is a key part of clematis care, and doing it correctly will lead to stronger, healthier plants and more abundant flowers.
Different clematis varieties require different pruning methods. We’ve written a helpful blog to walk you through the three clematis pruning groups—check out our Clematis Pruning Guide to learn more.
Pruning benefits:
Encourages vigorous new growth
Helps control size and shape
Boosts flower production
🌼 4. Feeding Clematis for the Best Blooms
While clematis don’t need feeding all the time, a couple of well-timed feeds throughout the growing season can make a big difference.
Clematis feeding tips:
Use a balanced tomato feed or multi-purpose plant food
Feed once in early spring as growth begins
Feed again in late summer after flowering, to strengthen the plant for next season
This feeding schedule helps your clematis produce a wonderful display of flowers and keeps the foliage lush and green.
🦠5. Keep an Eye Out for Pests and Disease
If your clematis starts to look a little unhappy—wilting leaves, brown stems, or poor flowering—it could be down to pests or disease. Keep an eye out for common problems like clematis wilt, aphids, or powdery mildew.
For preventative care, spray with a plant disease defence spray during the growing season, especially if your clematis has been affected before.
🌿 Final Thoughts
Growing clematis doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right planting depth, strong support, occasional feeding, and a little pruning know-how, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular floral display year after year.
If you’re ever unsure about the care your clematis needs, feel free to reach out to us at The Cotswold Plant Company—we’re always happy to help fellow gardeners grow with confidence!