Add color that climbs skyward to your Lakes Region garden this summer by adding a colorful, climbing clematis. You can mix and match colors, or turn the side of your home completely purple. There are so many beautiful choices when it comes to clematis and finding them the perfect spot in your landscape will ensure years of delightful blooming. Plant your clematis in a spot that only gets roughly a half a day of sun. They can be a little temperamental and prefer sun on the top while they like their roots cool and shaded. Simply plant a low growing companion plant in the same area to help cool the roots. Be sure to provide something for the vine to climb on. A clematis vine climbs by wrapping its leaf stems around something. The stems are short so the best tool for this supporting role is twine, fishing line or netting.
In very cold regions (like the Lakes Region), the clematis will die right back to the ground after a good frost. Leave the vine structure until the spring as the plant will sprout new growth on both the old vines and it will also produce new ones. Once you see where the new growth is, you can then remove any dead vines.
If you’re very gentle you can kind of “art direct” the growth pattern by carefully guiding the leaf stems on the support you have provided. Most popular varieties Will deliver a colorful show of huge vibrant blooms as large as 6 to 8” across. They open toward the sun and nothing makes a lovelier display. Try one – or six – in your garden today.
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