13, April 2016: If you’re a keen gardener then you’ll know the Clematis well. There are many different varieties each in a diverse range of colours, all of which can liven up any garden. Below are 5 steps for growing Clematis in your garden this spring.

1. Which plant is best for me?

When it comes to selecting the right Clematis for your garden there are a few considerations to make. You need to think about the height, where you’re going to grow it as well as the flower formation and colour. There are many different varieties so you’ll certainly have your pick. You might have a bare wall or fence in the garden which needs an injection of colour, in this instance a Clematis is the perfect plant.

2. Where to plant it

You’ve probably already picked out a spot in your garden and hopefully it will be where the Clematis can get plenty of sunshine. Some can grow in a little shade but to reap the full rewards they need at least six hours of sunlight per day. In terms of the soil they prefer moist, well drained soil which is neutral or slightly alkaline. When it comes to planting in make sure the hole is filled with lots of compost and a touch of organic fertiliser.

3. Handling

Care should be taken when handling your Clematis as roots and any emerging vines could be broken. Position it slightly deeper than the pot it was growing in and water it weekly for the first season. These plants can take time to grow so you need to have a degree of patience, but if you can see it through the first year the benefits will be there for all to see.

4. It will need support

As the Clematis is a climber it’s vines will need support. This might be from a fence, trellis or shrub. The Clematis will usually climb by wrapping its leaf stems around something. The easiest things for this type of plant to grow onto will be twine, string or other branches. The more opportunities it has to grow and support itself the better. If you have a nice trellis fence in your garden you can place string or even fishing wire to help it along.

5. Pruning and care

As your Clematis grows it will need pruning from time to time. Some will flower on the previous season’s vines so try to avoid cutting these back in the spring. Pruning is all about using a common sense approach. Leave last year’s growth at least until mid-spring. Ideally, you only want to start pruning when you can see dead vines emerging and new vines starting to grow in its place.

The Clematis plant will produce a large amount of flowers for your garden and if looked after will blossom year after year so it’s a welcome addition. Check out our full range of Clematis here at The Planted Garden .