Question
Is it okay to dig up a clematis that is starting to bloom and transplant to another spot a few feet away, same soil? We had to redo our deck and put up a new trellis as a windstorm destroyed the old one and the clematis is now too close to the stairs and not centered on the trellis. Thank you.

Answer
Hi Judy,
Thanx for your question.  The best time to move perennial plants is in the early spring or early fall but I have moved them at all times of the year except the deep of winter.  Snip off the blooms and any blossom buds and go ahead and move the vine.  I would also suggest, cutting some of the vine back to make it easier to move.  This is going to have a dramatic impact on how the vine performs this year but will be in its best interests for the move.  Removing blooms and bloom buds cuts down on the amount of energy the plant is using to make reproduce and the plant will then instead, concentrate on the root trauma from the transplant.  Make sure you side dress the plant in its new place with some well-composted cow manure and then do so again at the end of July.  Water it well (at least once a week, a deep soaking) until the plant is established (45-60 days).  I hope this helps.
Tom