In my zone, I only use mulch to conserve moisture. Clematis don't necessarily like cool roots, they like the moisture that is often accompanied by the cool root runs. Cedar mulch is good but it won't decompose very fast to enrich the soil. This is not an issue if your soil is rich enough but I prefer a mulch that will decompose over time to help add organic matter to the soil. Adding appropriate ferilizer and/or compost will add the tilth that would come from an organic mulch that will decompose faster than cedar.

Ah Miquel, you bring up something that's been bothering me. This isn't specifically related to clematis, but having seen your pictures I'm sure you can advise. I have heavy clay soil. In a flower bed out front I recently removed all the landscape fabric, as I figured I could never improve the soil with that stuff there. The fabric was covered with bark (cedar I think). My question is, what can I use as a mulch that will gradually amend the soil? I've heard grass clippings, but we are pretty windy here, and I think they would blow everywhere. I don't see anything other than bark in the garden centers. I have a compost pile, but it's just started (we just moved in this fall). Any ideas for me?

I have some of my clems aboveground in large black tubs that trees originally came in. The ones on the North side do get some hot afternoon sun as they are close to the road. I have put a collection of Sedum in mostly large clay pots in front of the black pots to absorb most of the heat & make a more attractive grouping.

Keeping things moist has been far from my problems this year.

Marie in ME

Alice, the garden centers here sell a variety of mulches including hardwood mulch, bark mininuggets, cypress, cocoa hulls, etc. You might want to check around with tree trimming companies to see if they can offer you any trimmings they collect. Shredded leaves work great as do grass clippings which I use alot. Compost would work so if you can get a source of that from perhaps your local city. My city collects yard waste, makes compost, and then sells it back to homeowners. Also, check in the paper for other sources of mulch besides garden centers. We have several companies that sell various types of mulches, soil, gravel, etc. that are not garden stores.

Good Luck!

My clematis is planted along a north facing fence along a driveway and I planted pachysandra as a ground cover at the feet of my clematis and they have thrived together for over five years now. What is nice is the pachysandra is an evergreen (hard to believe in my zone) so looks great in the early spring before the clematis get going.