Question
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR MY CLAMITIS HAS COME UP AND IT SEEMS VERY HEALTHY BUT WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN A SINGLE BLOOM WHAT CAN i DO TO GET IT TO BLOOM? AND WHAT SHOULD I PLANT TO SHADE THE ROOTS? I LIVE IN ARLINGTON TEXAS.

Answer
Hello Sue from Texas, Can you tell me if you are pruning your Clematis? Pruning is tricky - stay away from the Clematis when you are holding pruning shears and see you get blooms next year.

Clematis also needs a good amount of sun to set buds.  Is your Clematis dancing in the sun much of the day?  Otherwise you may have lush green leaves and no flowers.

Root shade for Clematis is not critical, around here at least, but traditional advice has always recommended keeping the roots "cool" for the best health.  The trouble is you don't want anything to compete with the Clematis for nutrients in the soil.

Given that you area already having a problem with the flowers, I think you should stick instead to a simple mulch for moisture and to resist weed invasion.  Right now, planting Hostas or some other "shade" for the roots might just complicate things.

For summer 2006, there is a slight possibility that you may have missed the Clematis blooming season for your particular hybrid.  I don't suppose you know the name of your Clematis, do you?  Some of these bloom in early summer, or mid-summer, or late.  Did you get any flowers last year - and if so, do you remember when, and how many?

Finally, Sue, consider that old gardener's saying about vines: First year they sleep, Second year they creep, Third year they leap.

All based on the idea that the quality of bloom on any flowering vine is only going to be as good as the root system.  Could be you just have to wait one more year.