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 Wayside Gardens' brand-new spring catalog has over a hundred new plants. When gorging on the striking blooms and wishing for spring, think about going vertical in your garden. For ease of planting and growing, clematis vines will scramble happily on the ground or up a trellis, but they don’t need a trellis to be happy.
Give clematis normal well-drained garden soil with added lime, a cup at planting and ½ cup each year after, along with a top-dressing of compost. Plant the crown about three inches below ground. Keep them consistently watered. They will flourish in your garden in full sun or part shade. Although most instructions call for the roots of clematis to be located in shade and the tops in sun, you can successfully grow clematis in the sun if you keep the roots well mulched and damp (not wet!). The hotter the summers, the more shade they need. If you send them up climbing rosebushes or even up small ornamental trees, you double your garden delight. To paraphrase what the makers of Jell-O used to say, "There’s always room for clematis." One of the mysteries of clematis growing is when or if to prune the vines. There are three pruning groups associated with clematis. Knowing where your vine falls in these categories will help you have a sturdy vine blossoming for years to come. The pruning groups are based on when the clematis vine flowers. Pruning Group 1: Spring blooming clematis set flowers on old growth. They should be lightly pruned about a month after the flowers go by. Only prune them to keep them in shape, heading back the side branches. Leave the main stems. Pruning Group 2: Rebloomers should only have light pruning done in late fall or early spring since they set flowers on both old and new wood. Just pinch or prune to keep them in bounds. Pruning Group 3: These are usually the large flowered types. Summer and fall blooming clematis will blossom on new growth that comes into the world in the spring. Prune them in early spring as the buds begin to swell. Cut back to within six to twelve inches of the ground, leaving at least two to three sets of strong leaf axil buds. Here are the newest stars of tomorrow:  Clematis ‘Tie Dye’
The claim for these flowers is that no two are alike, just like flashed purple, lavender, and white snowflakes. Tie Dye is a streaked sport of Jackmanii, a clematis that has real staying power, a popular choice over the years. Pruning group 3.
 Clematis ‘Bourbon’
Bourbon is no shrinking violet. Her electric pink and red, large single flowers sport yellow centers. She is bred for pot culture, perfect to site outside a window or on a front porch, where she will draw all eyes. Pruning Group 2.
 Clematis ‘Pistachio’
Pistachio is another vine that can be grown in a container, but he is a more vigorous grower. Creamy white flowers open in early summer. By late summer, the blossoms have turned a pale green, in effect giving you two seasons of blossoms. Pruning Group 3.  Clematis ‘Broughton Star’
Broughton Star is a vigorous Clematis ‘Montana’ hybrid. Its semi-double blossoms are visions of pink, covering the vines in early spring. The vines themselves are useful in hiding fences or buildings. In addition, there is no required pruning to keep it blossoming. If you want to keep it in check, Pruning Group 1. ---Posted by Coach Anne, December 6, 2007---
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