Good afternoon

I have a clematis "Bill Mckenize" . It's a beautiful plant that flowers every year.

The issue I have is it's too heavy and the vine is bare.

I have read you should prune down to the first bud but there are no buds on the vine.

I know it's too late for this year but I'd like to be prepared and make it an even more impressive plant. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Many thanks

Pictures?
If I was doing this... I'd run any extra vines along the ground, cover with mulch... allow time for rooting... and maybe next year have more plants...
I usually dig these in the autumn, Spring dug doesn't seem to be successful.
I probably wouldn't cut these back now... people that like to cut things back suggest early Spring before new growth starts.

Clematis (Clematis tangutica 'Bill MacKenzie') belongs in the group 3 pruning, so late fall, early spring hard prune. ( not down to the first bud, but to the first node, which is where a new shoot emerges)
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