How to Support a Climbing Clematis

Climbing clematis vines have three requirements, sunlight for the vines, shade for their roots and a support that they can climb up. Clematis supports must be sturdy enough to hold the weight of a fully-developed vine, but must be thin enough for the vine to wrap around. Some of the best supports are wire-like supports such as a chain link fence, a pre-fabricated wire arbor or trellis or a trellis panel that you can purchase in many garden centers.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Drill
• Masonry bit
• Masonry anchors
• Eye bolts
• Galvanized wire fencing
• 9 gauge wire
• Wire nippers
• Pliers
• Shovel
• Bamboo stake
• Low-growing plants

1. Drill holes into a masonry wall to attach anchors for your trellis using a cordless drill and masonry bit. You need at least four holes, one for each corner of your trellis panel. Drill more holes for added support.
2. Place a masonry anchor into each hole that you have drilled. Screw an eye bolt into each masonry anchor. Eye bolts hold your trellis 4 inches away from the wall to increase circulation around your vines.
3. Attach a galvanized fencing panel to the masonry eye bolts by threading lengths of 9-gauge wire through the eye bolts and twisting them around the panel wires.
4. Plant a clematis tuber under the trellis using a shovel. Sink a bamboo stake into the ground behind each tuber to help train the clematis vine up to the trellis.
5. Plant low-growing flowers or perennial shrubs or herbs in front of the clematis to shade the roots. Good companion plants for clematis include herbs such as lamb’s ear or shrubs such as boxwood.