Asked on Apr 21, 2014
How can I give clematis a boost to grow and flower fast ?
by
Yvonne
+15
I had a dead patch of grass left from a trampoline and did not want to replant grass . So I put in a pole, and planted six clematis at the base to climb up. Here's my problem , I forgot to dress the hole . I was going to try using Epsom Salts in the hole as I have read they work great for your plants. I live in British Columbia and of course it started to rain ,so in my rush to finish I forgot the salts. Can I put the salts on top ? Is there a better alternative to use? The plants have taken well, but I'm hoping for the pole to get thick and bushy .
18 answers
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Clematis is not a plant for the impatient. They are slow to settle in and start growing and it can take three to four years for them to reach maturity. The International Clematis Society recommends a 5-10-10 fertilizer. Do not use one that is high in nitrogen. Epsom Salts is not a balanced fertilizer. It is a magnesium supplement. As an aside, I will add that you do not remotely need six clematis plants to cover a pole like that.
Douglas Hunt
on Apr 22, 2014
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yes takes several years, i know i used to have one.
Bonnie Dedrick Britton
on Apr 22, 2014
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Thank you for your advice Douglas, I will definitely move some of the clematis over to the fence. And I will get the 5-10-10 fertilizer that you recommend. Now I have a better understanding of Epsom salts and that they are not an all purpose fertilizer. I'm a "Learner Gardner" at best and welcome all advice that I can get. I hope to finish this up and put in a border this weekend.
Yvonne
on Apr 22, 2014
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I've had f good luck with miracle grow! good luck
Cjs618
on Apr 22, 2014
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I WAS TOLD TOO KEEP THE ROOT COOL WITH A LAYER OF ROCKS ALL AROUND THE BOTTOM, WELL DRAINED SOIL...MINE GOES NUTS! TOOK A WHILE TO MATURE. GOOD LUCK.
Pauline Hussey
on Apr 22, 2014
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Hi Pauline, ya I was told that too about the roots. I was gonna put bark mulch down, but rocks might be a better idea. We get so much rain here so thinking about it the rocks would let the ground dry a little better... humm.Thanks
Yvonne
on Apr 22, 2014
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Our clematis have full sun most of the day. Wouldn't the rock get hot and harm the plant?
Linda Baughman
on Apr 22, 2014
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Clematis..Year 1 - Sleep - Year 2 - Creap - Year 3 -- LEAP... Wet feet - Keep the soil wet but plant them in sun..I have a 27 year old clematis; named John Paul (my son and the Pope's name) it blooms twice a year...
Kathy R
on Apr 22, 2014
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Clematis likes its feet in the shade and its head in the sun. So plant a low, bushy plant at the base to shade the "feet" (root) area.
A
on Apr 23, 2014
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Clematis do take a couple of years to start growing well but I have good luck with mine and I mulch with bark. Once they get going, they will be beautiful. I also use Miracle Grow with good luck.
Margie*Lee
on Apr 23, 2014
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I used to have several clematis in my Iowa home. There are 3 types of clematis and you prune them or not at different times. Make sure you know which you have. I always had problems with the rabbits chewing them off or I would have had more flowers than I did. In spite of that I still had some pretty ones.
Elaine Simmons
on Apr 23, 2014
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Thank You all so Much! I have other clematis that I have planted couple years back and I left the care tags with them , but when the weather started to warm up I referred to those tags thinking I wound prune if "they told me to" however they only spoke in General and not about the plant that I was dealing with at the time. So what I decided to do is just trim off last years dead growth and mix a little compost in the top of the dirt. I am planning on putting in some perennials and finishing it all off with a nice border . I live just outside of Vancouver B.C. And it's just been rain rain rain here and I'm just itching to get back out there to finish that and start working on the rest of the yard.
Yvonne
on Apr 23, 2014
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I have hosta's planted at the base of my clematis, don't remember the name but it can handle sun. Took three years before it filled out, but was well worth the wait. Good luck.
Kim 'Kiewatt' Waknitz
on Apr 23, 2014
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Mulch well. Here's what I know about clematis : "The first year they sleep, the second year they creep and the third year they leap!"
Barb Rosen
on Apr 23, 2014
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I have Hosta's planted at the feet of my Clematis. Find one that likes sun, and it will keep the Clematis roots cool.
Madelyn Upleger
on Apr 23, 2014
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Like @Madelyn Upleger I plant hosta's at the base of my clematis to keep the base cool. There are several varieties now that like sun. I love what you did with the post to help it climb up and the bird house is a nice touch. I may be trying that at home.
Monica Koch
on Apr 23, 2014
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I still have quite a fair amount of work to do to finish,but I really like the idea of planting Hosta's at the base. Now if it would just stop raining for a bit.
Yvonne
on Apr 23, 2014
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I have several different clematis plants, I think the fastest growing one is the Sweet Autumn one, tiny scented white flowers in the fall, after several years it started giving off baby plants in the grass which I share with others, you don't need that many plants in one area, so remove and plant else where. That many might be nice along a long wall but not against a post, you will need a trellis to hold upright, sooner the better. My husband had to attach trellis to house because it got so heavy.
Sue Voelz
on Jul 08, 2014
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