Pruning clematis

My clematis has just finished flowering, when is the best time to prune it and how hard should I prune? I've looked and there seem to be different options? This is the type I have, there's two of them, one quite woody (it was left to fend for itself for a while I think). I don't want to harm it by pruning too soon, as there are leaves still, but I would like to start getting rid of old wood and make it look youthful again

 

Hi.Not sure if you have a group 1 or 2 Clematis as these are the ones that flower early like yours From what I know Group 1 are only pruned to tidy it up and I am not sure when this is done, probably the same time as G 2+3. All hard pruning of group2 & 3 is done in late autumn or as most do in early spring when all you have is the stems left and easier to see what you are doing.
Remember though if yours is G2 they will flower again in late summer, or a lot do. If this is the case with yours hopefully you have cut all the old flowers buds off as this encourages late flowering.
I did read somewhere that even cutting back this year`s growth just below the old flower will encourage new growth and hence flowers in late summer.
So really no do not give your clematis a good prune yet as you could damage it. Hard pruning of old wood should be done as I pointed out in late autumn or better early spring. There are some good Clematis experts on this forum who have given me solid advice so I have no doubt they will post a reply.

If you do not know the name of clematis a photo will help identify the clematis.

 

Thanks for the advice trogre!

Looking on Google, I think I might have Mayleen? It's a pale pink with 4 petals, quite big flowers.

I will definitely get out this weekend and cut off all the old buds. If I can get a second flowering then that will be a lovely welcome bonus!

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Is it a Montana rosa ?

 

It looks like it may well be Doug!

 

This is going to help you Ellen but I am exactly the same when it comes to pruning clematis.

I never know what time of year to do it or even what type of clematis I have! Seem to recall watching something on tv that said best time of year to prune was February so did it then this year .

Good luck!

 

This isn't going to help you Ellen but I am exactly the same when it comes to pruning clematis.

I never know what time of year to do it or even what type of clematis I have! Seem to recall watching something on tv that said best time of year to prune was February so did it then this year .

Good luck!

 

Thank you Hopefully I can get it looking better than it does this year, as I left it to do it's own thing, not knowing what to really do with it!

 

yes you have a Montana (group 1 pruning) to be honest I think it looks great so apart from a tidy over I would leave alone , it flowers on last year's growth so thats why you prune just after it has flowered so you won't lose any flowers next spring.

You could just take out some old branches near the base and leave a good two thirds I know you can also but it is dramatic cut it close to the base but something I have never tried or would want to do with a Montana , I think a little late now maybe could of 3 weeks ago , I did have to sort out one of mine but that was in February and I knew I would lose flowers the branches looked dead but they have all sprouted as the ivy it was growing with totally died out so looked awful and I wanted to thread the new growth into the trellis to block out next door which it has done already

Personally as I said earlier quick tidy up, it looks amazing on that stone wall

Spruce

 

Thanks Spruce! The one on the photo is the better one out of the two The one just out of shot is VERY woody. I cut most of the dead wood off that one in spring, just when buds started showing for the leaves. A lot of it was dry and gone. The one in this photo has been untouched.

So... if I cut off the old flowers (there're no flowers anymore, just where seed-pods would be) and give a little trim, next year should be fantastic! Quite excited!

 

Hi Ellen
I wouldn't bother cutting the seeds heads off,I never do that to mine , if you have any long newgrowth either cut off just above a leaf or wind it in or even better put some trellis on the other corner and train it around I have one plant that covers the trellis thats attached to a 30 feet fence and I am still training it along.


Spruce

 

Trailing it in a new direction might be nice, to add more colour to otherwise bare parts of the wall The one in the pic I might leave as is, but the other one could do with some tlc Thank you again