If you have clematis in your garden, it usually blooms only in early spring to the end of fall. Did you know the secrets of how to make clematis all summer? Here are some tips on how to make clematis bloom longer in the garden.
1. Try Out the Right Species
Is there a clematis that blooms all summer? The answer is yes there is. Some clematis varieties like Sweet Autumn and Durand blooms in the summer.
If you want to see the clematis bloom along the summer, then choosing these varieties will be the easiest way. They will give you a sweet scent but only produce small flowers. You can also plant Elsa Spath which has a bigger flower, it can grow between 8-12 inches.
2. Put it in the Right Place
Clematis is the kind of flower that loves to meet the sunlight. You can put them in an area which has full or at least half a day of sunlight. Warmer climates can help the clematis to have a longer blooming season.
3. Watch the Soil Moisture
Even though clematis loves the warmer climate, they can’t survive in dry soil. Clematis has such a deep root, you need to water them regularly so the root area will remain wet.
4. Do Not Fertilize While Blooming
One of the biggest mistakes in planting clematis is to keep fertilizing them while they are blooming. Macronutrients in fertilizer such as nitrogen will push the blooming season so it only happens in a short period.
5. Cut the Old Growth
After the blooming season is over, you can start to cut down the old growth in clematis. This is because the old-growth can’t produce any flowers anymore.
Cutting down the old growth will also stimulate the plant to produce new leaves that can create a new flower.
The most important part of how to make clematis bloom all summer is understanding their needs. You should also pay attention to pests and diseases because it can also make the blooming season shorter.