One of the most confusing gardening questions that we get concerns the correct pruning of clematis. Actually clematis will survive and bloom with no pruning whatsoever. But for the most beautiful vigorous flowering vines, regular pruning is a good idea.

First off, don't prune at all in the fall. Late season pruning encourages new growth which easily freezes during the winter months. A second tip is to simply do no pruning at all the first year after planting. Just observe your plant the first year-pay attention to when it blooms. And also note whether it blooms on old woody stems from last year  (old wood) or on new green growth (new wood) from the current year.

SPRING BLOOMING PLANTS -  if your plant does not appear to die back over winter and  blooms early in the spring (on old wood)  cut back, tidy up after the initial spring bloom. This encourages reblooming. Some double flowering clematis and other varieties have a second flush of smaller sized flowers that bloom on new wood. These should be trimmed lightly like the spring flowering plants, immediately after the first bloom period. Don't chop these plants all the way down.

LATE SPRING OR SUMMER BLOOMING PLANTS- this is a large group of popular varieties like Jackmanni and the Sweet Autumn clematis. If you notice that your plant dies completely down over winter or if the flowers are small and all at the top (on new growth) with lots of dead foliage at the base- then you must be ruthless in your pruning. Prune these plants down early in the spring to about one foot from the ground. This promotes new vigorous growth that will flower well.