Well congratulations on finding the lovely Kyoto clematis. I have my plant in a container and will be leaving it outdoors all winter. I am hoping this new clematis is just as winter hardy as the regular clematis vines that can handle freezing weather as clematis do go dormant during the winter months. Fall is a good time to add clematis to the garden. Just dig a hole and plant deep following the planting instructions that came with the plant. You can grow in the ground or in a large container that is at least 12 inches deep. I suggest you add a mulch of wood chips at least 2 inches deep on top of the soil to serve as insulation for your new plant this first winter. Don't worry if it looks dead. In spring you should see new growth emerging from the ground and then summer blooms with the lovely double lavender blue petals that I shared of my own Kyoto clematis.  Let us know when yours blooms for the first time. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti