Beautiful Gardens Spring Edition 2020 | Page 15

Three tips FOR TOP R E S U LT S To help your clematis look its best: grow over an arch or an obelisk; feed with a specialist clematis food; and prune after flowering to maintain its shape. SPRING OFFER Clematis montana varieties £14.99 each or 2 for £20 Offer ends 30 April 2020 Clematis montana ‘Broughton Star’ C lematis are grown for their beautiful, long-lasting blooms. So, by combining different varieties in different places, you can enjoy flowers from early spring right through to late summer. Dwarf clematis, like free-flowering ‘Bijou’ and ‘Ansley’, grow well in patio pots, while vigorous Clematis montana varieties are ideal for covering walls and fences, even in light shade. Once established, some Clematis montana plants will spread up to 12 metres (39 ft) with a sturdy support. The dainty flowers of alpine clematis introduce Nostell obelisk, in Classic black Small £19.99 (RRP £24.99) Large £24.99 (RRP £29.99) “Combining different varieties of clematis gives you flowers from early spring to the end of summer” a splash of colour as early as March, while vibrant late-flowering varieties can still be in bloom in September. You can grow clematis in the border, too, using a metal or wooden obelisk – other plants will cover the clematis roots which enjoy a shady position. Good planting partners for a climbing clematis include shrub roses, honeysuckle, lavender, nepeta and ornamental grasses. You can also train a summer-flowering clematis to grow through a cherry or crab- apple tree, to continue the show long after the spring blossom has faded. Ryeford garden arch, £99.99 (RRP £164.99) Clematis feed, £4.99 (RRP £7.27) BE AU TIFU L GA RDE NS/15