Showy clematis offer a flowery flush all summer long

If you are lucky enough to have a clematis in bloom and climbing its way through your garden at the moment, then you may have one of the early summer flowering varieties; with their large showy dinner plate-like flower they are pure perfection.

Even though there are three clematis types, as a plant group they give us early spring flowers right through until autumn raises its head. There is no reason why you can’t grow them all, although to have them entwining together would make for a pruning nightmare.

Type one clematis are early flowering varieties which include the aromatic montana with its green-purple foliage, and the nodding bells of the alpina types. These all make a striking sight when so much in the garden is only just waking up. Pruning should be done straight after flowering is over to ensure that enough growth can occur to carry the following year’s blooms.

When these are fading away, summer will herald the arrival of the type two clematis, and the most commonly found is Nelly Moser with her very pale pink petals and reddy-purple stripes straight through the centre. What a sight to see this scrambling over a shed or a gazebo. These will give you a second flush of flowers if you lightly prune them after summer flowering but pruning will need to be done again in late winter.

The final type three comes later in the summer months and contains a variety of large flowers and again the bell type. These will flower on the current season’s growth and benefit from a good prune in late winter or early spring. You can afford to be quite harsh with your secateurs. The decorative seed heads give clematis the nickname old man’s beard.

If left unpruned, clematis will continue growing from where the growth ended the previous season, becoming top heavy, flowering well above eye level, and with a bare base. When planting and siting your new plant, give thought to how much sun is available for it as they dislike their roots getting too hot.

Plant the base of the clematis in light shade or provide shading with other plants. Flowering will be poor in a very shady spot. Give your plant a weekly feed with tomato fertiliser in summer, and deadhead to prolong flowering. If your clematis is in a pot, make sure it is a large container and repot every two years, remembering to mulch the surface to protect the roots from hot sun.

Some jobs to keep you busy throughout June

Give pots and hanging baskets a liquid feed every few weeks to encourage flowering.

Support tall-growing perennials, including hollyhocks and delphiniums.

When you’ve had the last of your rhubarb, give it a good feed by mulching with well-rotted manure mixed with compost to enable them to build strength for next year’s bounty.

Pinch out the tips of fuchsias and bedding plants to encourage bushier growth.

You can harvest beetroot, broad beans, cabbage, cauliflower, early peas, lettuce, spring onions and radish in June.

Start feeding tomatoes with a high potash tomato food – this will encourage the production of more flowers, and therefore, more fruits.

Once again, the joy of summer is upon us, so enjoy the warm, light nights.

By Suzi M, plotter