I am getting ready to buy a couple of clematis and wondered what you all grow them on. Can I let them vine up a gutter downspout?? Will they do that? Right now, that is about my only option.

If that is your only option, I would put some chicken wire or some hardware cloth around it so it has something to catch on to. Hardware cloth is like fencing that has 1/4 inch squares in it. It would be more substantial than chicken wire and you would have to wire either on, I would think.

Yes you can let them grow up a downspout....I buy the plastic netting to put on it and it works great.

Forgot to tell you that I have one growing up an old wooden baby gate and then I made a trellis from old windows. I used L brackets to screw them together. I broke off the clematis as I was planting it last fall that grows in front of it so have to replant this year. I will show you pics of both.

One made from windows.

dodie...what kind of plastic netting and where can you find it?

i got my plastic mesh from Lowes. It was outside in the back of gardening section. It was 50feet long by 4 feet wide for $13 or $15 dollars. It is plastic mesh that i think are 1 inch by 1 inch squares. very flexible. I stapled 4 foot sections on my fence and planted my clematis in front of them. they are climbing them really good. I do have to go out there daily and weave the vines through the mesh.

is the plastic clear?

i was just asking about whether the plastic was clear because I have a homeowners association and I doubt they would like to have something tacked onto my gutters that was less than clear. I am afraid I am going to have to submit a request to have the clematis anyway since they would be really obvious. I have kind of gotten away with other landscape projects that they haven't said anything about. I saw that most of the clematis types don't spread too much further than 24 inches. Is this true? How does that look on a gutter downspout? Any pictures?

I will put mine on an obelisk. DH says nothing can be attached to the house.

I am also looking for ideas as I have 3 packages of morning glory seeds and I want to look at ideas for where to put them.

Heres my obelisk:

You might want to check out This link Jeanne

Thank you Jeanne. That definitely gives me a visual and I am a very visual learner. I have not ordered my clematis yet. One of those sites you gave me cut off their spring shipments yesterday. What do you know about the GC site and their cut off? I could not find anything about an end shipping date on that specific site. I did find 5 clematis that I eventually want to add to my garden. Is there a time of the year that I would not want to get my new clematis? Remember I am in zone 9 in florida.

Also, I put the alfalfa tea on for the first time ever a week and a half ago. I think it definitely is making a difference on my bouganvilla and my red mandevilla which I have on a trellis together. I was about to move all of it back to a east facing wall because I thought it needed more sun...but I saw new buds and growth on the bouganvilla today! Yay. I don't know if it just had to get established or if it was the tea. Do you know if they drop their blooms when planted or drop their blooms and then rebloom with another flush after that? That is what it appears to be doing. Either way, those babies are getting a drink of tea every 6 weeks!!

I am thrilled you used the Alfalfa Tea and saw how wonderful and amazing that stuff is!!..When you say "drop their blooms" are you referring to clematis?..No they don't...they keep right on ticking!!..Living in warmer zones our clematis do best planted in about 6-8 hours morning sun and afternoon shade..the viticella varieties can take full sun here as well but plant the lighter coloured in more shade...If by saying GC you mean GardenCrossings?..He sells early spring into fall...Early Spring and Fall are our best times for planting..I know I planted some just last week...and have two more to plant..I usually most definitely chill planting by the end of May..heat is too detrimental on young clematis..they love our Springs and Falls because they are cool and moist...Jeanne

One of the easiest trellises you can make is with fishline. Since you have a downspout, I assume you have an eavestrough and from that you can tie fishline and bring it down where it is anchored behind the plant.
Each vine then is twirled on the line and it will assume that on its own and climb up.

Another great mode to have a clamtis climb up on are small trees.. I have one climbing a Paul Scarlet Hawthorn. The tree blooms in June..the clematis takes over July/August/September and parts of October.

I'm considering my Silk Lilac as another home for a clematis. Any tree that has an open canopy and allows the bloom to take up its sun needs can be used.

If you have a lightpole (we call them hydro poles) that can be used. Don't be concerned about whether the utility company will allow it...they work around such gladly.

I would love to see a pic of your Silk Lilac..