25/5/2007

Home and Garden

Clematis is classic

Patio clematis are proving ever popular

by Jim Coggins, Notcutts Garden Centre manager, Bagshot

Design classic is an everyday term that can come to mind when we’re thinking of anything from a Jaguar E-Type to a little black dress.

In gardening, there are some plants that have the same quality that makes them desirable whatever the decade or the setting. Clematis is definitely on the A list with their fabulous choice of flowers and colours and now is the perfect time to enjoy them.

Simply being a climber gets clematis off to a great start. The versatility and space-saving qualities of climbers makes them ideal for such a wide range of situations. 

In smaller gardens, using vertical space for a cascade of colour adds maximum interest for a small footprint.

Growing climbers up walls and fences is a great way of softening hard boundaries and creating a sense of space — an apparently permeable boundary is far less ‘enclosing’ than a solid wall or fence. 

You can also use clematis to great effect for screening off garden eyesores or on trellises to divide areas.

They can also add a completely new dimension when grown through the branches of a deciduous tree or shrub and don’t forget ground level as they can often be grown as ground cover.

But the most up and coming use of the ‘Queen of the Climbers’ to which they are often referred, is on the patio, making them a feature in containers supported by decorative obelisks or wigwams.

Let’s take a look at some of them that are at their best at this stage of the season.

All of these fall into the category of early-mid-summer flowering clematis and most have big, confident flowers: Belle of Woking (bluish white flowers), Beauty of Worcester (deep blue flowers), Countess of Lovelace (bluish lilac flowers) and of course the stunning Nelly Moser with its big (12-16cm across) pink-mauve flowers.

If you’re planting in the ground, good drainage will help your clematis to thrive.

Work in plenty of soil improver (compost, well-rotted manure) when you plant and water well, especially if planting through the summer.

It helps to keep the roots cool, so arrange slates or stones to keep the sun off the ground above the roots.  Pruning back to a pair of strong shoots 15cm or 20cm above ground level is an effective way of encouraging strong growth.

Clematis is a great patio plant too. It can thrive in a pot and bring all the benefits of flowers and foliage to hard surfaced areas where it isn’t possible to plant into the ground.

This flexibility also allows you to move your clematis, either around the garden, or if your domestic arrangements force you to move house frequently. 

Containers do need to be big enough (at least 45cm deep and 30-45cm wide) and container-grown plants will need a little more in the way of feeding and watering than if they’re planted in the ground.

Whichever option you choose, classic clematis is guaranteed to bring you pleasure this summer.

Beautiful flower shapes and choice of glorious colours.

Perfect for vertical colour or screening — grow up a trellis or wire.

Should do well in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil in sun or partial shade, (ideally shade root or base of plant)

Hardy/frost hardy and fun to grow.

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail