Clemetis and cutting back

[Michael Berridge]

Jim wrote in message ...
>Now my clemetis is looking all brown and withered, should I be
>cutting it back, or just leave it as it is? It's about 10'x6' at
>the moment, and I would like it to cover that same area, or more,
>next summer.
>
>Thanks.
>J.
It very much depends on the Clematis that you have. The early spring
flowering ones like Montana and Alpina need no pruning. Mid summer
flowering, that flower on spurs form last years growth then you should
prune after flowering, so they can produce growth for the next year.
Late flowerers like the viticella group are usually pruned hard back in
spring, to just a foot or so, and they will flower on the abundant
growth they make in the year.

[Nick Maclaren]

In article <b9knvt44k3ugeakhh...@4ax.com>,

Jim <oak...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>Now my clemetis is looking all brown and withered, should I be
>cutting it back, or just leave it as it is? It's about 10'x6' at
>the moment, and I would like it to cover that same area, or more,
>next summer.

What type is it? I.e. when did it flower, and is it evergreen?

Early flowering clematis should be cut back hard (often to the
ground) immediately after flowering, but the evergreen C. armandii
doesn't like being cut back too hard. Late flowering clematis
can be cut back hard in winter or early spring, though some do
not like being cut back to very old wood.

Regards,
Nick Maclaren,
University of Cambridge Computing Service,
New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QG, England.
Email: nm...@cam.ac.uk
Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679