When to plant young Clematis/last risk of frost

I've got lots of young Clematis to plant out, which are growing in their pots like billyo, but I'm not sure when I can safely plant them out.

Do I wait until after the last risk of frost (which apparently is May), or could I plant them end March/April? If we did have a subsequent frost, I'm not sure they would survive (well the top growth mightn't, but they do say to plant them a few inches under the soil so maybe they would sprout new growth?).

 

My small ones (grown some some plugs I got last Autumn) are outside during the day, and inside on cold night. Putting them out like that will slow down the rate of new growth. I'm not in a rush to plant mine so they get a flying start, but they will be sprawling all over the place as a result. In the Garden centres they are sold tied to a cane, sometimes trained up-and-down a few times, so that might be a method? Cut to the ground at the right pruning time to get them to the shape you then want them next year perhaps?

 

Thanks Kristen.

They are kept outside at the moment - I only bring them in if there is a chance of frost.

They do have canes but are already overtaking them. Not really worried about the shape.

I may plant them out and if we get any frost, cover them with some fleece. Does that sound feasible?

 

Interested to read this post. Last year , I lost 7 Clematis plants! They looked healthy and the frosts had passed.After reading maybe some Clamatis are more Vulnerable

 

Yours are a lot bigger than mine, I would plant them so they can get on with it Yes, I agree with cover with fleece - that way they won't get set-back by a sharp frost and will have a good first growing season.