I need to put my
clematis on a larger trellis. The one I have now is too small to
support the plant. I live in zone 5 and don't know quite how to go about
doing it.
Try pruning your clematis
to reduce the size and eliminate the need for a larger trellis. Since most clematis in northern areas
bloom in summer or fall on new growth you can cut the plant back to 12 inches
in late winter. This will
encourage more growth at the base of the plant and reduce the overall
size. If a bigger trellis is
needed I would tackle the job in spring after pruning the plants. Plan ahead so you can remove the
old and install the new trellis with minimal disturbance to the plant's
roots. If space is limited, you
may want to retrofit the old trellis to accommodate the larger size. Fortunately plants are tougher than we
think. Increase your chance of
success and reduce stress caused by changing the trellis with proper care
throughout the growing season.
Mulch the soil around the clematis and water thoroughly whenever the top
few inches of soil are crumbly and slightly moist.