I do mine with the thought of "head in the sun and feet in the shade". Just something that was taught to me many years ago. So, I have mine facing west or south and I put a flat 6" X 12" patio brick over top of the planting area to cover the roots. They seem to do fine. I planted a couple facing east on our old house and they didn't seem to do so well. They grew OK but never really flowered much. May not necessarily be the only way, but it works for me.

Shauna

We have Bluebirds thriving in all exposures but more flowers where they receive the most sun. However, I always put a Vitecella clematis next to Bluebird, Alpina, etc. so it runs up the other clematis for more colour from the end of June through to season's end.

Thanks for the info - I guess against the east fence would work well then - it will face west - I will take your advice about putting something in front of the vine to keep it "head in the sun and feet in the shade".

Fern

It's true that clematis like cool roots. Similar to Shauna's patio block, I have a little pile of flat stones stacked around mine and it seems to like them.

Thank, Gil, for posting about the rocks. My clematis are all planted as background plants with plants in front of them, so you don't see my small patio blocks. But, if the planting site is exposed, I've also put rocks over top to make it look nicer.

Shauna

Shauna and Gil, your idea about putting rocks or a patio block over the clematis root area is really different! I've just put plants in front of them, but i do like the rocks idea.

I'm on the lookout for something hardy to replace Cardinal Rouge. 'Pamela Jackman' may fit the bill but i had plans for her closer to the house. Maybe i'll find a different one and plant her in the Cardinal's spot. There are silver mounds planted where his root area was. Maybe i'll find something tomorrow as we're going to town. Hope so because i'm suffering from empty trellis syndrome! LOL

I asked once about putting rocks over the root zone to keep it cool... I don't remember if it was on the FN forum or not, but I pretty much got sneered at. Like what a stupid idea. Obviously not any of the regular posters if it was here. But I have since found out a lot of successful clematis growers do this. My mom swears by it and she has a lot of nice clematises.

Okay - I am acknowledging my being "kind of dumb" but... when you talk about putting rocks over the planting area - how close should these be to the plant? I was thinking of putting a "stepping stone" in front of the vine - slightly elevated by earth at the top nearest the plant and then putting some miniature Iris and tarda tulip and similar plants [suggestions welcome] in the 2 ft squarish surrounding the vine and the stepping stone. So how close should the stepping stone be from the clematis? I know silly question but I really don't know

Fern

I usually place mine about an inch away from the vine. That way, if by chance the base of the vine moves for any reason, it won't wear on the rock or the stepping stone. It isn't likely that the base of the vine will move that much if it clings to the support tightly enough, but cats, rodents, high wind, etc. might cause it to move a bit.

Nice selection for surrounding plants, Fern. I've got mine against my fence surrounding my garden, so I've got my rhubarb in front. I've got 2 planted there. Then, I have a Clematis mandschurica planted in my main flower bed growing up a trellis. I had gaillardia in front of it but I just ripped most of that out yesterday. Not sure what I'm going to put in front of it yet.

Shauna