Clematis pruning

Jomoloney16

hi all
i have a lovely clematis group 3, do I really have to cut it back down to 6 inches of the ground every year or can I leave it,and will new growth happen on the  old wood vines?
thanks

Fairygirl

Hi Jo - the problem with these Group 3s is that, if you don't prune back quite hard in late winter, you end up with all the flowers at the top of the plant - often too high for you to see them properly.
I tend to prune back to about a foot [30 cm] to a decent pair of buds. If you have planting in fornt of the clematis, you could prune back a bit higher,  but make sure to train the new stems horizontally as much as possible, as that will give you even more flowering potential 

Obelixx

The reason for pruning hard is because this group flowers on new stems.  If you leave old stems it will flower but, as FG says, high up and out of sight.

If you prune it back to just above the lowest pair of buds in late winter/early spring and then feed it generously with slow release clematis, rose or tomato food and give it a good drink of water you will be rewarded with a healthy, strong plant that produces ore flowering stems every year.   Brilliant plants the group 3s.

2oaktrees

Sorry to but in on your post Jo! 

Sorry if I’m a bit naive, don’t know anything about clematis yet I bought 3 recently because they looked so beautiful. I have planted them against a trellis fence after improving the soil.  How would I know which group these are please? 

I have the following, 

Inglezinho

Both Jackmanii and Vyvyan Pennell are late-flowering and need hard pruning in early spring, as soon as the new growth is showing. I'm not sure about the other but it is probably of the same type. The golden rule about clematis is "late hard, early light" ie. if the plants flower in the spring or early summer, prune lightly in the autumn. If you have any doubts go back to the nursery where you bought them and ask. Good luck. Ian.

Fairygirl

2oaktrees - there's a very good site which gives loads of info. Just  search on  it by variety
http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/

Hope that works  

Richard Hodson

The plants do not know which ' Group ' they are in, it is your decision, dependent on when you want flowers. If you want Summer flowers then prune them all hard back in February, you will get more stems, more flowers, but smaller.  Vyvyan Pennell is listed as an Early Large Flowered Group, if you treat as Group 2, light prune, you should get double flowers May/June then some single flowers August/September on the new wood. In theory.

Obelixx

On a purely practical note, I find it easiest to treat groups 2 and 3 the same and prune them all in early spring and then I give them a good feed.  Much easier than faffing around trying to do a judicious trim on a group 2 after the first flush.