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Rose and clematis pot display

Rose and clematis pot display

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Thursday, 19 May 2022 at 9:47 am

Create a permanent display of rose and clematis in a pot. We show you how.

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Roses and clematis make the perfect planting partners, so why not bring the two together in a large pot display? Here we've combined ground cover rose 'Suffolk' with maroon-flowered clematis 'Burma Star' and a few trailing ivies to complete the look.

All plants thrive with the minimum of fuss and will happily romp away, given adequate compost, food and water. Simply deadhead regularly and tie stems into place, and you'll have an annual display that gets better every year.

You Will Need

Rosa 'Suffolk'
Clematis 'Burma Star'
Ivy plants (3)
30cm terracotta pot
Wooden batons
Crocks
Blended loam or topsoil
Raffia
Water-retaining granules

Total time: 45 minutes

Step 1

Adding the compost to the pot

Add crocks to the base of the pot and fill two-thirds with compost.

Step 2

Adding water-retaining crystals

Add mycorrhizal fungi to aid development of the rose's roots.

Step 3

Planting the clematis next to the rose

Plant the rose in the centre of the pot and the clematis and ivies around it. Add more compost to fill in any gaps and firm well.

Step 4

Tying the wooden batons together with raffia

Position the wooden batons in the compost and tie them together at the top to form an obelisk, using twine or raffia.

Step 5

Tying the clematis to the batons

Tie the clematis and rose stems to the obelisk using twine.

Step 6

Watering the display

Water the plants well and allow to drain. Add more compost to fill in any holes if necessary.

Kevin Smith says...

Use a soil-based compost for a permanent container display like this one as it’ll hold its structure over a long period. Feed regularly to keep the plants healthy and boost the display – liquid seaweed feed is a good choice.

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