The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Clematis plants, includingclimbing vinesand spreading varieties, feature large,colorful flowers.
Growing them is fairly easy, but pruning clematis tends to instill fear in some gardeners.
This fear is unwarranted, as pruning simply comes down to when yourclematis blooms.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Like many large-flowered garden species, clematis vines are usually pruned to encourage new growth and more flowers.
But when you prune them, do so as soon as they finish blooming in the spring.
This generally means they should be pruned before the end of July.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
To prune, first remove any dead or damaged stems.
Then, trim unruly outer stems back to woody main stems or near ground level.
What you prune is really a matter of how you wish to shape the plant.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Annual pruning is essential.
Without it the plants will get top-heavy and have fewer flowers.
In late winter or early spring, prune all damaged or dead stems down to ground level.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Trim remaining stems back to a point just above the strongest, most visible buds.
This pruning often will get you another period of blooming on new wood in late summer or early fall.
So in late winter or early spring, cut these plants down to about 2 feet from the ground.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
The faster a clematis grows, the more aggressive you’ve got the option to be with pruning.
Once you know the tendencies of your plant, it will become clear which pruning strategy to employ.
These stems form a framework around which new wood can grow.
The Spruce/Kaley McKean
