How to transplant clematis to another place in the spring.

Clematis are quite capricious, but at the same time so magnificent that the vast majority of gardeners are ready to provide these plants with the most comfortable conditions in order to be able to admire their flowering. Clematis are vines, heat-loving plants, their health and flowering directly depends on how well you care for it, and care begins with a competent planting. The more carefully you prepare for planting work, the more chances the plant has for rapid rooting and active growth. In this article, we will talk about how to choose and preserve clematis seedlings before planting, how to choose and prepare a place for planting a plant, and also how to care for clematis so that they grow well and bloom luxuriantly.

Choosing clematis seedlings.

At the end of winter, a large selection of clematis seedlings appears in flower shops and garden centers. When choosing a plant, make sure that the package contains the name of the variety, since in order to successfully grow clematis, you need to know its pruning group. Seedlings can be sold both in dormant form and with already blossoming leaves.

Dormant seedlings are usually sold in bags that are filled with peat. Sometimes they are packed in plastic wrap along with an earthen lump. If you purchase such a seedling, then it should be wrapped in damp paper and in another bag (leaving a hole for ventilation) and stored in the refrigerator in the vegetable compartment. Inspect clematis periodically, and as soon as the buds wake up and begin to grow, plant the seedling in a plastic, peat or paper pot (so that it can be easily cut when transplanting the plant to a permanent place) and put it in the light in a cool place (a glazed balcony would be ideal, where temperature does not drop below zero).

Saplings, which already have leaves in bloom, are sold in small pots, with an installed support for the trunk. If you buy just such a seedling, then you should not do it long before planting, it is better to purchase it 10-14 days in advance and, again, place it in a bright but cool room. In the warmth, clematis will begin to grow actively, and this can complicate transportation to the landing site. If the growth process has nevertheless begun, then in no case pinch the clematis, its trunk is a flexible vine, so try to roll it into a ring and fix it during transportation.

The most favorable time for planting clematis.

When choosing the best time to plant clematis in the ground, several factors must be taken into account. First of all, the timing of planting is determined by the climatic features of your area. The soil should warm up enough, in areas with a warm climate you can plant clematis in April, and in cooler regions it is better to wait until May. In any case, clematis must be planted before they begin to actively grow, which is why it is recommended to keep them in a cool place until planting. Varieties that bloom early should be planted two to three weeks earlier than others.

If you bought clematis with dormant buds, then plant it in April as soon as the ground warms up. In case of recurrent frosts, cover the seedling with geotextiles. If you purchased a seedling with leaves, then you need to plant it as soon as the night frosts stop.
The question often arises when it is necessary to plant clematis, in the spring or in the autumn.In the spring, you can plant any variety of clematis in any region, even in regions with harsh winters and short summers, when planting in spring, clematis will have time to take root and adapt well. Planting in the fall is possible in areas with a warm climate, where winters are short and mild.

When planting in spring, it is advisable to carry out all the work no later than mid-May.
When purchasing a seedling with an open root system, you should plant it as soon as possible. If you buy clematis in a pot, then it can be stored with you for some time before planting, the main thing is not to allow active growth.

Based on all of the above, it can be argued that the best time to plant clematis is still spring, April or the first half of May.

Planting rules.

So, you have chosen and purchased seedlings, now you need to figure out how to plant clematis so that in the future there will be no problems with it. You have to choose a place, taking into account the preferences of the plant, prepare the planting hole and nutrient mixture and, in fact, plant. Make sure that the clematis has a support along which it will grow, and also clarify the pruning group, it is important to know if clematis blooms on young branches or on last year's shoots.

When choosing a place for clematis, be especially careful. These plants do not always tolerate re-transplanting well, so it is better to find a suitable place for it the first time.

Clematis needs sunlight, but direct sunlight is best avoided during the daytime, so plant it so the plant is in partial shade at noon.

The branches of clematis are long and rather fragile, so they must be protected from the wind.
Do not plant clematis in low-lying areas or where groundwater flows close to the surface. In any case, place a drainage layer in the hole when planting.
Since clematis needs support, then most likely you will plant it next to a gazebo or wall of the house. The distance from the building must be at least half a meter. The support on which clematis will curl must be installed in advance, since if you install it after planting, you can cause mechanical damage to the plant.

Before planting, dig a hole about 60 cm wide and deep. If you are planting several plants, then the distance between them should be at least one and a half meters. Drainage must be laid at the bottom, at least fifteen centimeters high. To do this, you can purchase expanded clay or use construction waste (broken brick, gravel). Pour a hill of pre-prepared nutritious soil on the drainage (you can buy soil for clematis in the store), place the seedling on top, and gently straighten its roots. The root collar should be located at the level of the soil or slightly lower; it should not be left on the surface. Then fill the hole with earth, carefully tamping it, water the clematis well and build a small canopy, since in the first time the plant will not benefit from either the bright sun or heavy rainfall.

If the clematis seedling that you purchased is in a container and already has leaves and shoots, then the planting process takes place the same, with the only difference that the root collar must be buried a little more, about 5-7 cm (the larger the seedling, the more deepen the root collar).

We transplant clematis to a new place.

As we said earlier, clematis do not always tolerate transplanting to a new place well, so this procedure should be carried out only in case of emergency or when dividing a bush. The most suitable period will be the spring period, when the earth has warmed up and the weather is steadily warm. Choose a location and prepare the planting hole by making it a little deeper. You are replanting an adult plant with a larger root system that grows deeper. Planting takes place in the same way, but maximum attention should be paid to digging out the bush from the previous place.The larger the earthen ball, the less likely you will damage the roots, so take your time and act very carefully. After moving the plant to a new planting hole and covering it with earth, water it abundantly, and after 3-4 days add top dressing to speed up the rooting process.

How to care for clematis.

If you land flawlessly, then this guarantees a 50% success. Now it remains to study all the nuances of clematis care and admire the flowering.
In the spring, everything begins with the removal of the shelter, which protected clematis in the spring from frost. You can't do without shelter, clematis are very thermophilic and you need to wrap up any plant for the winter, regardless of the variety. You can remove the shelter after the snow has melted, but it is better to wait for warm weather, and before that, little by little open the plant on sunny days, providing ventilation. After the final removal of the shelter, it is necessary, if necessary, to carry out sanitary pruning, and then, in order to prevent, treat the crown and soil with drugs that protect the plant from possible diseases and from the invasion of pests. At the same time, the first feeding is carried out, for which it is worth using ammonium nitrate.
An adult clematis needs two or three waterings per week, each with a volume of about five liters. It is very important to keep the soil in the near-trunk circle moderately moist and not let it dry out. But at the same time, one should not abuse watering and arrange a swamp under the bush. A day after watering, the soil must be loosened, while removing weeds. After three months have passed after planting, clematis will finally get used to it, so loosening can be stopped.

Throughout the season after planting clematis, you do not need to feed it, since during planting you applied enough fertilizers and nutrients. And starting from the second year in the spring, it is necessary to apply fertilizers containing nitrogen, and during the budding and flowering period, clematis will need potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.

Pruning is carried out in the spring, before sap flow begins. The rules for pruning depend on which variety your clematis belongs to and on which shoots it forms inflorescences. After the first wintering, it is necessary to cut the branches to the first bud, this will have a stimulating effect and accelerate the growth of young shoots.

Towards the end of spring, clematis shoots grow very actively, adding about ten centimeters every day. It is necessary to timely tie the branches to the support from the very bottom in order to protect them from mechanical damage.

Preventive spraying with special preparations helps to reduce the risk of developing any infection or the unexpected appearance of a pest colony. When pruning, all leaves and shoots must be burned. A good effect is given by spraying clematis with Fundazol or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. At the base of the vine, experienced gardeners recommend planting strong-smelling plants, which will not only shade the roots from the sun's rays, but also scare away pests with their pungent smell. Plant marigolds, mint, sage or calendula next to clematis, this will be not only useful, but also beautiful.

To drop off clematis it is not difficult in the garden, the planting scheme does not fundamentally differ from other planting works. It is very important to choose the right place, not to damage the root system during planting and to provide the plant with good care. The result of your labors will be a magnificent clematis bloom, which you can admire from year to year.