Are you moving them to pots permanently? I just ask since I wonder what will you do in the fall when it's getting cold again? That could help decide if they would be moved to pots or not.

However, besides thinking of that future scenrio, you can move them to pots now. But just be aware that digging at it will usually cause accidental breakage of some stems, so just know you may not get it as intact as you hope.

As for the root ball, you can remove excess dirt, even long root hairs but you don't need to wash out all of the soil.

I would like to try them in pots until next spring....when I will have a more suitable spot for them.

I was thinking of bringing them inside my garage during the winter months.

I have hydrangeas in pots that I bring inside my garage during the winter....so far only 1 out of 3 hydrangea pots have survived. I may have watered them too much.

How will this affect the clematis in pots? Will their winter care be different then the hydrangeas?

Sorry, I'm a novice....just started gardening 3 years ago.

Thank you for your replies.