Clemantis and Wisteria knowledge needed

[mkwyatt1]

Greetings,

Maxwell Street Community Garden at 13th and Racine as several large  vining clematis plantings that, of course, died back over the winter.  Green is beginning to show withing 12 inches of the soil. The gentleman who planted them died recently and sadly I'm not sure whether he cut them down to the green leaves last season and tried to pull all the dead off the chain link fence or "what" !   Hoping someone can help me !

Wisteria -- has grown to 3 feet above the chain link fence (straight up --it goe out of control last year during his illness and wasn't trained to the fence)  

Everything I can find online says to cut it back to just below the top of the fence and then start training the new growth where we want it to go.  Also that it blooms best on new growth.  This will be it's 4th season and we are hopeful for blooms.  Does anyone have any experience to share ?  

Thanks so much !

Marsha Wyatt

President/Maxwell Street Community Garden