As a natural-born climber, your clematis needs something to grab onto to really reach its full potential. Luckily, you’ve got plenty of options! Whether you’re using a trellis in a garden bed, a container on the patio, a fence, or a wire system along your house, there’s a perfect setup for every yard.
The Natural Approach
In the wild, you’ll mostly find clematis growing along the edges of forests or in sunny clearings, where they naturally hitch a ride up nearby bushes and trees. You can totally recreate this look in your own garden! Just a heads-up: clematis can sometimes struggle to get a grip on thick tree trunks. If your vine is having a hard time, try wrapping the lower part of the trunk in some chicken wire. Another pro tip? Use a bit of twine to secure the first few vines to the lower and middle branches to help it get started.
Working with a Trellis
If you’re planting your clematis in a flower bed or in a pot, a trellis is your best friend. I always recommend “training” the plant early on by gently tying the first few shoots to the bottom of the trellis—this shows the plant exactly where it needs to go. When picking out a trellis, I usually suggest wood over metal. Metal can get super cold in the winter and transfer that frost directly to the vine, which can sometimes lead to nasty freeze damage.
Climbing the Walls
Want to dress up the side of your house? A trellis works great here, too. But if you’re looking for something a bit more low-profile and modern, a stainless steel cable system is a fantastic, subtle alternative. Just make sure the support system you choose is big enough for the specific variety you’ve planted—some get much bigger than others! Most importantly, leave about 3 to 4 inches of space between the support and the wall. This keeps the air flowing freely around the plant, which helps prevent diseases and keeps your clematis happy and healthy.
