Pruning Clematis and their aftercare.

The aftercare of pruning clematis, support, feeding and watering.

Pruning Clematis

To find the right time for pruning clematis, you have to know which group it belongs to. Pruning at the wrong time can seriously affect the flowering of your plant. Specialists divide clematis into three groups.

The first group, “group 1", is the species clematis including the montana, macropetala, alpina and evergreen clematis in their cultivated forms.

These only need pruning to keep them neat and in check. They normally flower before the end of May, the flowers are produced in clusters at the end of short stems which sprout from the leaf axils.

Because this type flowers on last season’s growth, any pruning should be done immediately after flowering any never later than the end of June. Cut out any dead stems or unwanted branches, this will produce growth that will ripen to produce next year’s flowers.

The second group, “group 2", is the early flowering hybrids which produce their flowers on old wood, like "group 1". They begin flowering before the end of June, showing a single flower to each stem, they also have a second flush but the flowers are smaller and there are less of them.

Pruning clematis like these should be done in February or early March when new growth is just starting to show. Cut back the stems to a healthy pair of buds and tie in securely.

The last group "group 3", contains the late flowering hybrids which produce flowers on new growth that is made during the current season.

Included in this group is the Jackmanii, viticella, texensis and their cultivated forms and hybrids, and all the large flowered, late summer flowering hybrids. This group of clematis start flowering in July and usually have two or more flowers on each stem.

The old growth on these types dies down naturally each year, so pruning clematis in this group is quite easily done by cutting hard back and removing all dead growth anytime between January and March.

Cut the stems back to a bottom pair of buds 15-30cm from ground level. Herbaceous types of clematis such as recta and heracleifolia should also be treated in this way.

If a clematis has been allowed to grow out of control into a jumbled mass, do not cut hard back, but prune back gradually over a two year period.

Aftercare...Feeding and Watering

Now that you have planted your clematis, do not ignore it. The plants will still require regular feeding and watering when dry.

During spring, whilst the soil is still moist, sprinkle a handful of Sulphate of Potash around the base of the plant, fork in gently so as not to damage the roots and then "top-off", with 8cm of well rotted manure or compost.

This will help to preserve moisture around the roots and keep them cool as well as helping to add extra feed to the plant.

Late spring and summer flowering types will need a regular feed of a general high potash feed during the growing and flowering season if the flowers are to reach their maximum size and colour. Do not let clematis dry out, always keep well watered.

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