Clematis

Do you have an eyesore in your backyard that has you climbing the walls? Well, why not let a beautiful vine do the climbing for you? Clematis has a reputation for being temperamental, maybe hard to grow, when in fact it is easy to get this vine up off the ground and growing.

Clematis colors range from pure white to lavender to the darkest purples and the richest reds. As far as size of bloom, some are small, charming flowers, while others produce big, full blossoms. It's best to plant a clematis in the spring. Planting is all about location, location, location. There are four elements that make this vine grow: full sunshine for top growth, a shady cool spot for the roots, well-drained soil and a support to climb on.

First, dig a hole about two feet deep. At the bottom of the hole, to ensure good drainage, add a two-inch layer of gravel. The next step is to backfill with amended soil; mix in some peat moss, cow manure and compost. Also add a handful of a 20-20-20 fertilizer because clematis are heavy feeders. Then just mix it up.

Typically, you plant perennials at the same depth as they are in their containers. Clematis is different. The plant includes the foliage, a woody area on the stem, and the roots. It is very important that the crown of the roots is two to four inches below the soil surface. Also, when planting your clematis, make sure the stake stays attached to the vine. Plant it at a 45-degree angle, six inches away from the support. It's important to keep your clematis watered--about a gallon of water a week. To give the root system the cool, shady conditions that it needs, spread about four inches of mulch right around the base of the plant. Then sit back and wait. The first year, you won't see a lot of growth. The second year, it will start looking pretty good. But it's not until the third year that it will take off and give you the kind of spectacular blooms that clematis is known for. Initially, you may need to help the vine establish itself on a trellis or chicken wire. Very gently wrap it around the wire. Eventually, the vine will catch on and will do it on its own. To help make the vine bushier, pinch off the new stems so that energy will go out to make new vines.

By the way, if you're wondering about the pronunciation, whether it's "clem-atis" or "cle-mat-is," both are perfectly acceptable. Either way, if you follow these planting pointers, your clematis is bound to be a blooming success.