Clematis Pruning Made Simple !
Of the many species of garden plants that require regular pruning, there are some that seem to cause particular concern; roses may raise heart rates, but clematis really cause collywobbles. Some clematis need a really good haircut every year, whilst others need little or no pruning at all, and some can turn up their toes and die if cut back too hard. This may seem horribly complex, but clematis are grouped according to the type of pruning they require, which depends on flowering time. Easiest to prune are late summer-flowering clematis. These plants flower on the current season's wood and include C. viticella hybrids and
|
c. texensis, as well as the lovely late flowering 'Bill Mackenzie'. Pruning consists of cutting back all stems to within 25-30 cm of the ground in late winter. Late summer-flowering clematis are usually referred to as Group 3 and the pruning shown here is suitable for any in this group. Clematis that flower in spring or early summer are in groups 1 and 2. Early flowering clematis, including the popular species C. alpina, C. montana and C. armandii, as well as their varieties flower on the previous season's wood. These make up Group 1 clematis and require minimal pruning. Remove dead, damaged and diseased wood and thin, wispy growth immediately after flowering. To ensure good flowering, annual pruning should be avoided, but
|
every three or four years, take off up to a third of the oldest stems to prevent the plant getting bulky, which in the case of C. Montana can be enough to pull down a garden shed. Late spring and early summer-flowering, large flowered hybrid clematis make up group 2 and include varieties such as 'Crimson King' and 'Snow Queen'. As with group 1 clematis, these plants flower on the previous season's wood. Remove weak growth by cutting back to a pair of plump buds and thin out weak stems. Do this in late winter or early spring, just as the plant starts to grow. This will, of course, remove some flowering stems, but thinning the weak growth will focus the plant's energy into making the remaining flowers larger and all the more spectacular.
|