Gorgeous flowering clematis vine display gravid versatility . Suitable in several garden configurations , they ’re widely used as ground natural covering , container plants , scramblers , and setline .
Some have a bushy nature , but most are born to climb and have it off to scale the heights !
The most telling displays are vertical , where their climbing prowess covers almost anything in their way , including arbors , column , dagger , pergolas , pole , stake , and trees .
Photo by Lorna Kring.
However , for vigorous vertical growth , an good trellis system is needed . When the vines no longer have something useable to take hold of onto , they cease growing , and clematis is especial about the type of sustenance it need .
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These vines do n’t encircle structureslike wisteriaor adhere to control surface like English ivy . alternatively , they ’re folio - climbers that use a slender leaf stem to surcharge around thin object , ground the vine for vertical increment .
Photo by Lorna Kring.
This makes it authoritative to provide proper support for climb , because the humble stems ca n’t effectively grow on larger structures on their own .
But unlike simply sticking a trellis in the ground or attaching one to a wall , climb up these plant on columns or posts can be a act tricky . The control surface required , such as metal lampposts , are small and often rounded , and they can be difficult to pierce without power tool .
To be good , the treillage necessitate to be lean enough for the foliage stems to grab but strong enough to support the vine ’ weight . Plus , it should blend in with the foliage during the growing season and not be too unsightly when discover in wintertime .
What ’s needed is a routine of creative rigging .
With just a few basic material , you could craft one – or several – long - endure trellises for twelvemonth of howling flowered displays ! So grabyour garden journaland take some notes on how to grow clematis up pole , trees , and much more .
Here ’s everything we ’ll underwrite :
What You’ll Learn
The Twining Habit
Metal Posts
Wood Posts
Tree
Vine Climbing Tips
Clematis vine are leaf - climbers that mature upright by purloin or twine their leaf stem – the petiole – around narrow object .
And where the petiole clasps a reenforcement , a transformation happens . prison cell change , tumefy occurs , and the stem thickens , becoming tough and unbending .
This transforms the green , pliable stems into ace of strength and durability , and prevents delicate leave-taking from getting draw away as the vines grow .
But due to their modified size of it , the petioles ca n’t grasp physical object larger than one - one-half to three - quarters of an inch in diameter – which mean your support material require to be under that size .
suited materials for twining admit bamboo wager , rough tree barque , thin outgrowth , crybaby wire , clothesline , fishing pipeline , galvanized wire , inconspicuous netting , landscape fence , twine , steel rods , and wooden dowels .
Once the vine start maturate , they can be lightly wrap around the trellis supports or secured in plaza with industrial plant clips , twine , or garden velcro . As new emergence appears , you could tuck it into the existing vines and the parting will seek out other base and back up to attach to .
When mounting treillage supports , allow an inch or two of leeway between the pole and the trellis . The vines need the space to wrap and string , and anything wrap too tightly prevents this movement .
These plants develop quickly and require only initial guidance to start twining – once they ’ve found their path , they ’ll make their own way to the top .
Now allow ’s look at some unlike types of complex body part and how to trellis them .
Hanging trellis materials on metallic element posts can be challenging because you ca n’t easy impound anything to its surface , like a screw or staple .
One of the estimable solutions comes in the pattern of wire garden fencing material , which has the military capability and stableness to patronage small to turgid vines .
fencing material is tenuous enough to nip off with wire ship’s boat , but it ’s also rigid – and it ’s pliant , so you may well roll it into build to encircle a post .
A grid size of two to six inches is ideal for vines to climb through , and a 12- or 14 - gage telegram diameter provide the strength needed to be virtually freestanding .
telegram fencing material comes in a standard height of 48 inches and can also be used to gird tree diagram trunks with a circuit of up to 42 inches with a two - inch interruption and a two - inch edge adjustment .
Wear gloves and expend conducting wire cutters to cut a suitable distance of fencing . Spraypaint the fencing on both sides to match the situation .
Wrap the fence around the mail and overlap at the back as needed , assure an easement of about two inches between the situation and the fencing . Fold one edge over the other to stop up in place or sew together the edge together with twine , velcro , or wire .
Vigoro Stretch necktie
If needed , fix the cage to the post with stretchy garden magnetic tape , like this stretch tie tape from Vigoro that’savailable at Home Depot .
weld Wire Fencing
Wire fencing can be foundat Tractor Supply .
domestic fowl wire should be deflect for this software because it lacks the strong suit to continue freestanding when ladened with mature vines .
Wooden posts offer the great versatility for attaching treillage stuff . You might like to groom clematis up your mailbox post , exist fencing , or a arbour . Here are a few tried and on-key ideas .
Fishing Line
slight galvanized wire or heavy sportfishing line with a 15- to 20 - pound trial run weighting can be used to attend climb vine .
Insert small screw eye hook every four infantry on two , three , or four sides of the mail . Attach a duration of fishing line at the bottom and run it through the screwing eyes , knotting every 12 to 18 inch to forestall vines from slide . attach off the line at the top crotchet .
sportfishing melodic line is a good option for plant with a smaller growth habit , but it lacks the rigidity needed to support large , sprawl variety .
Hooks and Heavy Line
When heavier funding is require , use screw eye hooks locate every four to six feet and run a department of strong polyester cording , nylon - coated galvanized wire , or clothesline through the screw eyes .
Hooks and heavy short letter make a skilful trellis organisation for the large , grand coinage likeC. armandiiandC. montana .
Invisible Netting
Invisible netting apply unassailable polypropene filum waver into a storage-battery grid that yield excellent support to vining plants – and it ’s easy to attach !
skip a division of net five to six inches large than the mail service ’s circumference and staple one sharpness to the back of the post . Wrap the netting around the place , leave one to two inches of wiggle room on each side then staple the remaining bound to the back .
A individual bed cave in rich support for small to intermediate vine of up to 12 substructure . For larger cultivars , add a 2nd layer of net for extra strength .
Monofilament Garden Netting
treillage netting isavailable from Amazon .
The best way to encourage vine to develop up a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree luggage compartment is to take those with coarse , jumpy bark such as white ash , sugar maple , black orred oak tree , orblack walnut , as well as many type of coniferous tree .
In many vitrine , the pugnacious barque alone can be enough to provide the grain need for climbing , or you may add trellis material for more purchase point .
circle the luggage compartment loosely with a subdivision of invisible netting , starting about two feet above the ground .
Allow two inch of ease between the trunk and netting and batten down the cut edges together with stretchable tape or garden velcro . tie the top of the netting to the bole with stretchy magnetic tape , or if the bark is very thick , a stapler can be used .
Use bamboo pole , thin stakes , or a little wire treillage to make a span to the netting as needed .
When planted to climb a tree , water your vine frequently as the tree diagram will take up most of the uncommitted moisture .
New plants are usually sell with the vine attached to a modest stake for support – leave the stake in spot when planting .
If possible , choose a planting site on the shady side of your chosen musical accompaniment to keep the roots cool , then train the vine into the sunlight . For site location , remember the planting adage “ feet in the tincture , promontory in the sunlight ” – ideally , the vine will develop into the sun from cool , shaded root .
produce a planting site 12 to 16 inches off from the mail service or tree diagram to allow way for growth as well as access code to the Wiley Post .
Plant the source ball on a svelte diagonal slant , lean the attach post into the mail if there is one , then backfill with humus - productive soil . Top with a two - inch layer of mulch to keep moisture and keep the tooth root cool .
Water on a regular basis during the grow season , provide a lower limit of one inch of water per calendar week . For detailed planting and cultivation information , refer to our thoroughgoing clematis get guide .
The first spring after planting , cut back all vine to 12 to 18 column inch , regardless of their pruning group . This hard pruning creates the vigorous branching needed to evolve full plants and reduces the chance of poulet - branch clematis – bare lower vine with only top growth .
If needed , use bamboo poles , small wire trellises , or thin bet to bridge over any gap to the treillage . enter the stakes just outside the root ball and angle them into the rod or tree to meet the trellis .
Initially , vine need to be wrap or attached to their support with plant clips , garden tape , string , or velcro – after that , they ’ll mount on their own .
Throughout the rise season , tuck stray strands of new growth into exist vine and around supports .
For a profuse , full look , constitute two vines on either side of the post or other bodily structure . you’re able to opt for the same or different cultivars , but both should belong to to the same pruning group .
Ourguide to the types of clematishas all the information you need on cultivar and pruning .
Sky-High Climbers
A show-stopper among flowering vine , clematis loves to climb sky high ! Just give your plants something to seize onto and they ’ll quickly get over erect columns , pergolas , poles , and trees in a superb flowered presentation .
Locate the roots in the shade , countenance the vines turn into the sun , and provide trellis or a rough texture for the stems to grasp . Prune for their group , and you ’ll enjoy a long time of year of pretty foliation , gorgeous flower , and ornate seed head !
And for more info on the prominent florescence vine that isclematis , crack out these guides next :
Photos by Lorna Kring © expect the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more inside information . Originally published April 7th , 2022 . Last update : May 10th , 2025 . production photos via Amazon , Home Depot , and Tractor Supply . Uncredited photo : Shutterstock .
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Lorna Kring
