Tips

Vine Supports -  If you don't like trellis's then you can borrow a technique that I use which is soft copper wire and screws.  Soft copper wire is easy to cut and bend.  The simple double hook shown here can be opened easily to allow more stems to be inserted as needed.  With this method you can train a clematis into any direction or shape, such as over and around garage doors, windows, or house entryway.  When leafed out you will barely see these fastenings if at all.  Great for espaliered clematis on a wall.

Establishing a plant beyond the reach of a hose-  Take a gallon plastic milk jug and poke a small hole in it with a nail.  This allows the water to slowly trickle out and will soak in gradually without runoff.  You know exactly how much water you are applying.  The built in handles make them extremely easy to carry.  You can add liquid fertilizer to your water and feed your plants this way as well.

Trimming in layers-  To cover a larger areas. 

Larger area-  We have C. Margaret Hunt (group 3) on our back deck.  By the rules it should be trimmed at 12-18" each year.  My wife, Chris, prunes ours in layers  1/3 of the stems at 1', 1/3 at 2 1/2' and the balance at 5'.  The clematis grows from the ends at every different height.  This covers a larger area and blooms from the bottom to the top.

Longer area- Same technique but for a different use.  I had a caller to the Mike Darcy show ask me how to make a clematis grow over the top of their garage door and to bloom the whole way.  She was correct in thinking to trim at different heights ( length's?) to accomplish this.  Clematis will start growing from where they are cut back to.  Pruning keeps the foliage and flowers where you want them.  How long of an area can you cover?  I really don't know.  The heights listed on the tags include the fact that they are getting pruned each year.  I'm not sure if you can double or triple the height (length)  listed  but I wouldn't be surprised.