Clematis
An ornamental plant, planted March to May or September to October, or sown September to November.
In September: nothing to do. It can be sown under cover or planted now. Wear gloves: it can irritate skin.
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Clematis, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow under cover. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Plant a pot-grown clematis. | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Cut the clematis back hard (group 3 plants only). | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Prune the clematis (group 2 plants only). | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Mulch the clematis. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Handle it with care
Wear gloves: it can irritate skin.
Strong source: RHS.
Sowing and planting
Sow under cover September to November, 1.3cm deep. Strong sources: RHS and Chiltern Seeds.
Plant a pot-grown clematis March to May, and September to October, 60cm apart. Strong sources: RHS and Roots Plants.
Cut the clematis back hard
Gardeners call this hard pruning of late-flowering clematis.
For group 3 plants only.
Cut all the old stems back to the lowest pair of healthy buds, 15 to 30cm above the soil.
Usually February to March. Strong source: RHS.
Prune the clematis
Gardeners call this late-winter pruning of large-flowered clematis.
For group 2 plants only.
Work down each stem from the top and cut just above the first pair of healthy buds.
Usually February. Strong source: RHS.
Mulch the clematis
Spread 5-7.5cm of leaf mould, garden compost or well-rotted manure, kept clear of the stems.
Usually March to May. Strong source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Clematis” comes from.