I need to get a planter for this clematis and hope to train it up my boundary fence, this is a offshoot from a plant I had at a previous house, it's now about 2ft high and has flowered recently, I'd like to keep it going. Any ideas what sort and how big a planter should I get, fence is about a yard and a half high, the plant could grow through the slats in it on either side. My new garden is all paved apart from a couple of soil beds on my neighbour's boundary, my fence opens onto a field. Also what compost should I buy. Any help appreciated.
spath, the stuff you buy in sacks to plant things in tubs is also called compost. I would get rose tree and shrub compost for something that you won't want to repot and the biggest container that you can. An alternative is John Innes no 3 mix but its quite a dense and heavy mix. When planting, mix in water retention crystals and micorhizzal root boost
The alpina group seem tolerant of most soil types but should do best in slightly alkaline conditions, so a multi purpose compost will be good, as long as its not an ericaceous mix.
Hopefully it wont need much encouragement to start climbing!
As Tilly says keep the roots cool and moist with a layer of pebbles, on the surface, bark chips should be good too.