Clematis: planting and care

Clematis are members of the Buttercup family. These fragile and delicate flowers grow all over the planet. In European countries, they have been grown since the 16th century, and in our country they appeared only by the 19th century.

Clematis varieties

Through hard work, breeders have bred more than three hundred varieties of this flower. There are many varieties of clematis, which allows you to decorate your garden with them throughout the summer. The most commonly used in horticulture are the following varieties:

• Clematis Piilu was bred by Estonian breeders. Its length is about 2 meters. This variety is distinguished by large mauve flowers with dark pink veins on the petals.

• Clematis Rouge Cardinal. This variety has large purple inflorescences in the shape of a star. The flowering time of these clematis occurs in the second half of summer and early autumn.

• Clematis Carnaby rises to a height of over 2 meters. The size of the red-pink flowers reaches 18 cm. These clematis bloom in May.

• Clematis Andromeda also stretch over 2 meters. They can bloom twice a season. The flowers are creamy pink with purple streaks.

• Clematis Veronica's choice is distinguished by double flowers in purple and white tones. The length of the vine leaves about 3 meters. The flowering period of this variety is very long - the first flowers bloom in May, and the latter fall off with the onset of frost.

Planting clematis

Planting clematis seedlings in open ground is best done in April or early May. Since clematis are climbing plants, immediately prepare a support for the plant to cling to. For landing dig a large hole with sides of 60 cm for one plant, but if you plan to plant several plants nearby, then make a trench. Be sure to lay 15 cm of drainage from rubble, gravel or other suitable material on the bottom.

For the soil, make a mixture of peat, sand, manure and earth dug out of the hole. Add wood ash and complex fertilizer for flowering plants there. Pour half of the prepared soil into the hole and form a mound. On the slopes of the mound, spread the roots of clematis and cover with the rest of the soil, closing the root collar. Keep the distance between individual bushes about a meter.

Clematis care

These plants are very positive about watering. So good water them every week. If the summer is hot, then watering should be two, or even three times a week. For better moisture retention, the soil around clematis should be mulched in spring. If you do not do this, then regularly loosen the soil and weed out the weeds.

For clematis, it is very important to have high-quality and strong support for support. It can be made of any material, but it is important that the diameter of the parts that the flower clings to is no more than 1 cm in diameter. When clematis grows, they become very heavy, and after rain their weight increases even more. Therefore, choose structures made of durable materials.

Top dressing of clematis

Since clematis blooms luxuriantly and for a long time, they quickly take nutrients from the soil and need frequent feeding. In the first year after planting, there is no need to apply additional fertilizers, but provided that you applied a sufficient amount of them during planting.

In the second year, it is already required to make different fertilizers... The first time you need to do this after the shoots grow back, in May. Then fertilizer is applied while the buds are being laid. During this period, clematis require fertilizing with a nitrogen content for better growth and formation of greenery.

After that, the soil must be watered with a solution of milk of lime and mulched. In the future, for a lush and long flowering, clematis must be fed twice a month. At the same time, alternate organic and mineral fertilizers.

In August, mark nitrogen fertilization with phosphorus to prevent browning of foliage and inhibit growth. In September, add bone meal as well as double superphosphate. Use ferrous sulfate twice a month to neutralize the negative effects of phosphorus, which causes premature aging of the plant.

Transplant of clematis

If necessary, clematis can be transplanted to a new place. This is usually done for the purpose of plant propagation, while simultaneously dividing the bush. It is worth noting that clematis can grow in one place up to 25 years.

Before transplanting, all stems are cut from the plant. Therefore, it is more convenient to perform this operation in spring or autumn. If necessary, you can transplant clematis in the summer, but this will interrupt the life cycle of the plant and it will be difficult for it to recover before wintering. If you decide to transplant clematis in the fall, then do it in September or at the end of August. Then the plant will have time to take root.

You can divide clematis up to the age of seven. Older plants have a strong root system that is very difficult to separate. The bushes are dug up and freed from the ground. Then the bush with a pruner must be cut in such a way that a root bud remains on each part.

After dividing, the bushes can be transplanted to a new location. In this case, it is necessary to act in the same way as when planting plants.

Clematis: photos