Clematis delavayi

Spring - late · Outdoors

Feed with slow release fertiliser

Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)

This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.

Spring-Autumn · Outdoors

Water during dry periods

For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.

Summer-Autumn · Planting

Support young plants

Provide support for young plants, and tie in any growth to the support to keep it tidy.

Winter - late · Outdoors

Apply an organic mulch

Apply an organic mulch to the plant taking care not to bury its stem or cover any young growth that emerges from its centre.

A mulch is a covering that can: protect the soil surface from rain, heat and cold; deter weeds; provide nutrients. Organic indicates that material has vegetative origin e.g. manure, compost. Synthetics i.e. plastics, or stones are often called mulches.

Winter - late · Planting

Prune Clematis Group 3 - "hard prune" every year

Late and small flowering Clematis (Group 3) "hard prune" late winter or early spring. Start at the base, on each stem find the first pair of good healthy buds, or leaf nodes. Take off all growth above these.

This clematis flowers on wood grown in the current year. It flowers from early summer onwards and is pruned annually to remove all the old growth so the plant produces good young growth which will carry the flowers that year.