How to Create a Planting Bed for Clematis

Select a location in the garden that receives at least six hours of sunlight daily. Dappled or light afternoon shade on hot summer days prevents fading on dark-colored blossoms.

Dig a planting hole at least 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep. Fill with water and allow to soak into the soil. A well-drained soil will soak up the water in approximately 30 minutes. Add extra compost to the planting bed if the soil drains immediately or if the water stands in the hole for more than an hour.

Test the soil with a soil testing kit to determine the pH balance. Clematis prefer a neutral pH of 7.0.

Mix 3 parts excavated soil with 1 part compost, 1 part peat moss and, if the soil is acidic, 1 cup of lime.

Scuff the sides of the planting hole to avoid glazed sides. A hole in heavy clay soil with glazed sides has a bowl effect; the clematis roots will have a hard time growing outside of the planting hole.

Install a trellis behind the planting hole. Clematis climb using leaf stalks as tendrils; a sturdy wire trellis or arbor is ideal.

Remove the clematis from the grower's pot, carefully unwinding and spreading the roots over the soil. Plant the clematis with the root ball 6 inches under the soil. Backfill with the amended soil, mounding it over the roots and stem. Tamp gently and water thoroughly.

Add 4 inches of mulch over the planting bed, pulling it back 3 inches from the clematis' stem. The mulch helps keep the soil cool. Clematis vines prefer cool, moist soil around their roots.