Can Compost Be Put Around Clematis Vines?

Soil Requirements

• Clematis requires soil that provides deep drainage. Preparing the soil to a depth of 24 inches promotes healthy growth in new transplants. The roots of clematis prefer well-aerated soil that allows both oxygen and water to permeate the soil easily and quickly. Adding compost to the soil encourages this level of aeration. It also helps enrich the soil, providing the rich nutrients necessary for optimal growth in these blossoming vines. Clematis requires a neutral soil with a pH level around 7.

Compost

• Most compost contains one or more types of decomposing vegetation. Making your own compost at home involves mixing organic materials, such as grass clippings, raked leaves and pruned vegetation. The mixture needs to age long enough to break down the materials, a process that often requires several months. Commercial compost provides a sterile, quick alternative to homemade compost. In addition to aerating the soil and loosening heavy soils, the organic material in compost helps improve clematis growth by adding beneficial microorganisms and essential nutrients.

Method

• Adding a top dressing of compost around your clematis once each year helps to maintain healthy soil conditions. North Dakota State University Extension recommends keeping the compost about 24 to 30 inches away from the clematis plant. Using a rototiller helps incorporate the compost into the topsoil around the vine.

Warning

• Although compost encourages healthy growth, some types of compost may contain too much sodium, possibly leading to a salt toxicity in clematis plants. Test compost from questionable sources, such as city composting centers. Unknown sources of compost may also include residual herbicide chemicals, substances that may harm your vines. Purchasing sterile compost or making your own helps ensure quality ingredients.