How to Grow MASSIVE Clematis (The October SECRET to Huge Spring Blooms), by Your Garden Guide on YouTube. 48 min 12 s.
- Video length
- 48 min 12 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Give the vine at least six hours of sun on its top growth while the base stays cool and shaded. A warm wall behind it and low plants in front works well.
Work out your pruning group. If your clematis flowered before early June it blooms on old wood, so do not cut it back now. Check the plant label if unsure.
Follow the October no-cut rule. No clematis gets a hard cut in autumn. Leave the stems alone until you know the group and the right season for it.
Plant new clematis in autumn so the roots settle before winter. Set the root ball 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 in) deeper than it sat in its pot.
Dig a wide hole and check it drains by filling it with water and watching it disappear. Mix in compost and plant about 30 cm (12 in) out from the wall.
Water deeply before the first freeze. Soak the root zone slowly so the water reaches down, instead of giving the surface a light sprinkle.
Put the fertilizer away. Stop feeding after summer, because soft growth made late in the year is the first thing frost damages.
Mulch the root zone and keep the mulch clear of the stems. Spread a 5 cm (2 in) layer, then top it up again later as it settles.
Do an autumn clean-up sweep. Pick up fallen leaves, check for slugs and aphids, and cut out any stems showing mildew. Bin the debris.
Tie stems loosely to their support and check your pots. Move containers off wet ground or wrap them so the roots do not freeze solid.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep soil and mulch off the stems, because clematis rots when the crown stays buried and wet.
Clean and sharpen your blades before cutting anything, and wear gloves when handling the vine.
Water in the morning so leaves dry before night and mildew has less chance to take hold.
Check your hardiness zone before buying a clematis, so you pick one that survives your winter.
Questions
Should I cut my clematis back in October?
No. Autumn is for root care, not pruning. Cutting now removes the stems that carry next spring's flowers on early flowering types.
My clematis suddenly collapsed. Is it wilt?
Wilt makes whole shoots droop fast while the stems stay green. Cut the affected stems back to healthy growth and keep watering, as it often regrows.
Can I still plant clematis in autumn?
Yes. The soil is still warm, so roots grow before the cold arrives and the plant settles in ahead of spring.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
