Planting Instructions

Prepare to plant your new vine by soaking the soil and root ball in water. Before removing your plant from its pot, be sure to pull out the staples fastening the stake. This will allow you to pull the root ball out of the pot with the stake still anchored to the plant. Dig a hole twice the size of the pot. Amend the soil by adding sand for better drainage and peat moss or compost to improve water retention. Fill the hole with water to provide a moist planting area. Clematis need good drainage, so if the water stands on the surface of the planting hole you will need to add more sand.

Once the water has drained, put some loose soil into the bottom of your planting hole. Position the new plant in the hole, keeping the crown of the plant at least 6 cm (2") below the surface of the surrounding garden. This will encourage more stems to grow from the base of your plant. Refill the hole with soil, press firmly into place and water heavily. Try to keep the roots of your clematis cool, use ground cover plants, large leafed hostas, or even flat stones.