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Isn`t pruning clematis sometimes difficult because there are different groups and if you get it wrong you can spoil the flowering of it?
passionfruit Wrote:Isn`t pruning clematis sometimes difficult because there are different groups and if you get it wrong you can spoil the flowering of it?

It`s important to check which group your clematis belongs to before starting to prune, passionfruit.

Group 1 clematis
Clematis montana 'Freda'

These are the spring and early-flowering varieties that rarely need pruning, unless they grow too large and out of control. These include varieties of Clematis montana, C. alpina and C. macropetala, as well as evergreen varieties such as C. armandii and the winter flowering C. cirrhosa. If C. montana or C. alpina have outgrown their space, prune them back after flowering.

Group 2 clematis
Clematis 'Silver Moon'

These just need long stems trimmed back to a pair of buds on each stem, tidying up plants to keep them neat and well shaped. Cutting stems back encourages new growth from lower down on the plant and brings the flowering height down. The best time to do this is spring.

Clematis 'Royalty'

Clematis in this group include the popular, early and mid-season, large-flowered hybrids, including 'Elsa Spath', 'Fireworks', 'Horn of Plenty', 'Lasurstern', 'Mrs Cholmondeley', 'Niobe', 'Royalty' and 'Vyvyan Pennell'.

Group 3 clematis
These include the later flowering varieties, which all benefit from an annual prune in late winter or early spring.

Feed clematis immediately after pruning, hoeing the feed into the soil surface, and continue giving all clematis fortnightly liquid feeds throughout spring to encourage new shoots to develop.

Clematis prefer to have their roots growing in the shade rather than in the sun. Grow small shrubs, annuals and summer bedding to cover the root area and provide shade around the base of clematis. Don't use slates or tiles to shade clematis roots, as they can shelter slugs and snails
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