| I have so many Clematis, I can't even find some of them anymore, but I know they are there when I stumble over them! LOL. As everyone knows, there are hundreds of Clematis, all divided into groups, i.e. blooms early Spring only, new wood only, new and old wood, and on and on. Pruning Clematis in my humble opinion has become an affliction with some gardeners, purely because of neatness! Species identification is always a major problem as well, so you have to be careful loping off "old" wood, or one could lose their flowers for the coming year. My approach, do as little pruning as you must. Most Clematis use their old dead vines for support in climbing. When in full bloom, one can cut out old dead vines if desired, but be careful! Even Clematis "Montana" has several cultivars. I have two gorgeous C. "Montana", spring flowering with huge white blooms with light greren centers. |
| Prune after it's finished flowering next year, any earlier and you will take off the growth which will give you flowers. Montanas don't need hard pruning as a rule. Usually a good 'tidy up' unless they are making a nuisance of themselves in which case, as my late Mother used to say, " If ought offend you, chop it off!" Hope this helps |
