I also have great soil, dig an appropriately enriched planting hole for new clems and therefore do not fertilize newly planted ones, just like I do not fertilize any other newly planted plants of any type. Typically, the stress of planting and the need to get established negates the need for any fertilizer at this time. I would certainly fertilize next season and Rose Tone is a perfectly decent fertilizer to use on clematis.

Thanks, Gardengal. That makes perfectly good sense!