Climbing clematis are wonderfully showy plants that produce huge blooms over a long period. They grow well in borders and patio pots, climbing up pergolas, obelisks and trellis, adding valuable height to the garden.
Give plants a weekly feed with tomato fertiliser in summer, and deadhead to prolong flowering. If growing clematis in a pot, choose a large container and repot every two years into John Innes No. 3 compost with added slow-release fertiliser. Mulch the surface to protect the roots from hot sun.
Summer-flowering clematis need pruning annually. If they flower in May/June (group 2 clematis), trim them at the end of June, then cut back to strong buds in February/March. Those that flower in late summer are classed as group 3 clematis, and need to be pruned as set out in our advice on winter-pruning clematis.
When buying clematis, choose plants that are at least two years old (in 2-3 litre pots) to ensure the roots are well developed before planting.
View larger images of the plants in this feature in our clematis image gallery.
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