Beginner Gardening: clematis Help Please, 1 by kays_camelot

kays_camelot wrote:
I don't seem to be able to grow clematis at all; sure would like some advice. I have 7 of them, all purchased 4 or 5 years ago. I know it takes awhile but shouldn't they have good size stems by now? Some of them bloom a little and some are just surviving. I planted 5 against a wall facing east so they get the morning sun. The other two I planted against a fence; again facing east, with day lilies in front of them to shield the roots. I have mulch around them, maybe not enough but I don't want to smother them. I try to water them every week. I used 12-12-12 granular fertilizer sprinkled around them in the spring. Maybe that's not much that I do, but other than talking to them, I don't know where to go. Any suggestions?