Gardeners World 12 October 2012: Monty Don plans for next year’s flowers. He plants roses and clematis in his new white garden and gets some garlic in the ground for next year.
Carol Klein looks at Britain’s native wild clematis and also visits a clematis enthusiast in Lancashire who has grown the plants alongside some unusual partners. Carol gets his tips on how to display them at their best. Rachel de Thame travels to Bristol to meet a couple who have filled their tiny back garden with tender tropical plants. She finds out how they manage to protect their vast collection over the winter months.
Gardeners World 12 October 2012
Clematis
The ‘Queen of Climbers’, clematis produce masses of flowers in a wide variety of shapes and colours. With careful selection, it’s possible to enjoy their blooms throughout the year, and with plants suited to growing on walls and fences, up obelisks and pergolas, into trees, in containers and even in a mixed border, it is easy to see why these versatile plants are one of the most popular in gardens.
How to grow clematis
One of the most popular garden plants, clematis produce masses of flowers in a variety of shapes and colours. From vigorous to compact climbers, as well as herbaceous types for a sunny border, here’s everything you need to know to grow these plants in your garden. Clematis are tolerant of a range of soil types, but grow best in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil. On heavy or sandy soils, dig-in some organic matter, like leaf mould or well-rotted manure, before planting to improve soil structure.
The best time to plant clematis is in spring or early- to mid-autumn, as warm, moist soil at these times of year aids good root establishment. If you buy a container-grown plant during the summer, plant it as soon as possible and water it regularly. You can plant clematis at other times, but avoid planting in waterlogged or frozen soil and during periods of drought
