This is extremely helpful since it defines and describes the varieties and their characteristics in a straightforward manner. Many thanks, fellow gardener, from Toronto in Zone 6a (generally).
Thanks for info on what to use for the plant to climb on. That helps beginners a LOT! I find it hard to prune clematis because the branches are all twisted around each other. Beed to take your time & do it slowly so you din't cut away branches that support off-shoots.
I have a white clematis that is type 3 by your description. It was overgrown and straggly. Not knowing what I was doing but tired of the unkept look I cut it back about 4-6” from the ground. Early summer it was full of blooms. I have no supports, it latches onto my bricks and grows vertically past my gutters. It was also growing abroad through my rhododendrons and wrapping its tendrils around the branches which was also why I cleaned it up because it was choking the branches to my rhododendron.
Great information! I thought there was something wrong with my clematis because the branches at the bottom have no leaves and look dead. But it's flowering halfway up. This is my first clematis plant. It is doing better now that the temperatures have dropped. I have it in a large clay pot which I am shading with a small umbrella.
Thank you! I planted a clamatis last year. It came back but the stem was split at the bottom, so i cut it (a month ago) no signs of life yet. Im in Michigan. Hope to see new growth soon! Of course I can’t find the tag 😢
Thank you for making this video. I enjoy learning how to tend to the plants I've planted all around the yard. I checked a clematis the other day & started to break it off. I looked up & saw green leaves already climbing up the trellis. Yippee! What about fertilizer for clematis?
You do not fertilize plants, although almost everybody will tell you to do this. You replace nutrients missing from soil. To know which fertilizer to use - you need to know what is missing from your soil. If you don't know that, and most gardeners don't, just mulch with some compost - 1".
I usually trim my clematis to the ground in the fall but last year I left it alone. It is now early April and I have buds all over. After watching your video I realize I was doing it right and I should have cut it back. Is it ok to cut it back now or should I leave it alone for this year
I would love a video on how you deal with clematis wilt. I bought 4 Gypsy Queen last year ( group 3) and 2 of the 4 got clematis wilt. I cut it down to soil level and they never came back. I was so careful about planting them to not break the stems . They were planted and mulched so I hoped that would prevent it.
I think I have the same clematis Kiev from previous owner. It’s trimmed back to ground in Spring. It just started blooming a week ago with loads of beautiful purple flowers. However it didn’t bloom until reaching the top of the fence. There are no flower buds on the stems for the first 5 ft or so. Is it normal? Should I prune it differently? Should I prune it during growing season? I am new grower of clematis. Thanks!
This was so helpful! I have 3 climatice growing. I know what 2 of them are but not the 3rd one. The one I don't know has shoots coming out of the old wood. Should I let this one just go? The other 2 I've cut back to the 5" level and they've done well. Last year was my 1st year they really did well. Finally getting established. I have 3 colors lavender, burgundy and dark purple. The one I'm questioning is the lavender. The flowers look very different from the other 2. To prune or not to prune? That is the question that I ask of thee? Haha 😄
Very informative and I'm so glad I watched this I have a one year old group2 clematis the President and I think I would have killed it if I pruned it without taking your garden advice subbed.
Hi thanks for the video. I have a clematis that had a lot of dried brittle branches built up. But I notice that these dried branches become alive every spring. It also grows new shoots every spring. I mistakenly cut off the bunch of dried branches just when the new shoots were coming out, severing supply to the intertwined alive branches. I have no name for this clematis however just know that it grows new branches every year and its old branches also become alive. What’s the right way of pruning such clematis.
I'm in zone 5 also. Have group 3 clematis. Are you saying (and I'm guessing b/c you just posted this) that in early spring is OK to trim group 3 clematis? It is snowing today... there are no signs of new growth yet. Do you dead-head your clematis to get more blooms? I just heard about that last year.
Yes trim in spring. You trim mostly to keep the shrub from getting too big. The plant does not care that you trim it. Trimming also produces more new sprouts from underground.
Thanks. I trimmed one and just 2 spouts were starting at the bottom. Another one had many new buds all up the tiny vines do I didn't trim that. I need to check the tag to see if it is one to be trimmed in the fall. It is a double and this is just my 2nd year of having it.
Could you tell me what gauge the wire is you use? I made the mistake as you said of using a trellis and so they don't climb very well. Also, I have an Alba luxuriance which is apparently Group 3, so I went to cut it down but there is only 1 main stem unlike yours that has a lot, it does have 2or 3 buds at the base but that's it, how do I get it to get more. stems do I need to fertilize it. I am in Canada zone 4 and this plant is about 4 yrs old and doesn't do very well I do mulch it.
Not sure what I have, but next time I will get something a bit bigger. Anything smaller than a pencil works. You need time - they do grow more stems once established. I don't fertilize mine, or anything in the garden.
This is extremely helpful since it defines and describes the varieties and their characteristics in a straightforward manner. Many thanks, fellow gardener, from Toronto in Zone 6a (generally).
Thank you so much. I got more information from this video than I found it 5 other videos before I found this.
Thank you. This was one of the best, most straightforward explanation on pruning clematis. I'll get to work.
Thanks for info on what to use for the plant to climb on. That helps beginners a LOT! I find it hard to prune clematis because the branches are all twisted around each other. Beed to take your time & do it slowly so you din't cut away branches that support off-shoots.
Thanks for sharing, I can now see what I have to do to revive my clematis. And the added bit about providing proper support is just what I needed too.
I have a white clematis that is type 3 by your description. It was overgrown and straggly. Not knowing what I was doing but tired of the unkept look I cut it back about 4-6” from the ground. Early summer it was full of blooms. I have no supports, it latches onto my bricks and grows vertically past my gutters. It was also growing abroad through my rhododendrons and wrapping its tendrils around the branches which was also why I cleaned it up because it was choking the branches to my rhododendron.
Great information! I thought there was something wrong with my clematis because the branches at the bottom have no leaves and look dead. But it's flowering halfway up. This is my first clematis plant. It is doing better now that the temperatures have dropped. I have it in a large clay pot which I am shading with a small umbrella.
This is an excellent video on the details for clematis
Thankyou...just what I was looking for!
Thank you! I planted a clamatis last year. It came back but the stem was split at the bottom, so i cut it (a month ago) no signs of life yet. Im in Michigan. Hope to see new growth soon! Of course I can’t find the tag 😢
Thank you. Seems like I have a #1 and #3.
Thank you very helpful
been wanting this information for a while, thank you
Thank you for making this video. I enjoy learning how to tend to the plants I've planted all around the yard.
I checked a clematis the other day & started to break it off. I looked up & saw green leaves already climbing up the trellis. Yippee!
What about fertilizer for clematis?
You do not fertilize plants, although almost everybody will tell you to do this. You replace nutrients missing from soil. To know which fertilizer to use - you need to know what is missing from your soil. If you don't know that, and most gardeners don't, just mulch with some compost - 1".
Great information! Thanks!
Great info, thanks! I am also in zone 5 - expecting to be moved up to zone 6 any day now. LOL
I usually trim my clematis to the ground in the fall but last year I left it alone. It is now early April and I have buds all over. After watching your video I realize I was doing it right and I should have cut it back. Is it ok to cut it back now or should I leave it alone for this year
I would love a video on how you deal with clematis wilt. I bought 4 Gypsy Queen last year ( group 3) and 2 of the 4 got clematis wilt. I cut it down to soil level and they never came back.
I was so careful about planting them to not break the stems . They were planted and mulched so I hoped that would prevent it.
Until I make one have a look at this. www.gardenmyths.com/clematis-wilt-really-exist/
I use bird netting for clematis to cling to.
I think I have the same clematis Kiev from previous owner. It’s trimmed back to ground in Spring. It just started blooming a week ago with loads of beautiful purple flowers. However it didn’t bloom until reaching the top of the fence. There are no flower buds on the stems for the first 5 ft or so. Is it normal? Should I prune it differently? Should I prune it during growing season? I am new grower of clematis. Thanks!
Clematis that bloom in mid summer normally do not produce flowers in the lower section. Seems normal to me.
This was so helpful! I have 3 climatice growing. I know what 2 of them are but not the 3rd one. The one I don't know has shoots coming out of the old wood. Should I let this one just go? The other 2 I've cut back to the 5" level and they've done well. Last year was my 1st year they really did well. Finally getting established. I have 3 colors lavender, burgundy and dark purple. The one I'm questioning is the lavender. The flowers look very different from the other 2. To prune or not to prune? That is the question that I ask of thee? Haha 😄
If you are not sure leave them and see when and how they flower. Next year you will know how to prune them.
Very informative and I'm so glad I watched this I have a one year old group2 clematis the President and I think I would have killed it if I pruned it without taking your garden advice subbed.
The president is group 3, right?
I made the mistake of putting fairy lights on the same arbor as my clematis. Makes it difficult to prune in spring as the wires are hard to see.
Hi thanks for the video. I have a clematis that had a lot of dried brittle branches built up. But I notice that these dried branches become alive every spring. It also grows new shoots every spring. I mistakenly cut off the bunch of dried branches just when the new shoots were coming out, severing supply to the intertwined alive branches.
I have no name for this clematis however just know that it grows new branches every year and its old branches also become alive. What’s the right way of pruning such clematis.
Depends on the type of clematis - You might get none, or they might flower as well as always.
I'm in zone 5 also. Have group 3 clematis. Are you saying (and I'm guessing b/c you just posted this) that in early spring is OK to trim group 3 clematis? It is snowing today... there are no signs of new growth yet.
Do you dead-head your clematis to get more blooms? I just heard about that last year.
Yes trim in spring. You trim mostly to keep the shrub from getting too big. The plant does not care that you trim it. Trimming also produces more new sprouts from underground.
Thanks. I trimmed one and just 2 spouts were starting at the bottom. Another one had many new buds all up the tiny vines do I didn't trim that. I need to check the tag to see if it is one to be trimmed in the fall. It is a double and this is just my 2nd year of having it.
How late into the season can i cut a type 1 clematis without damaging the buds .i would like to keep the leaves as long as possible in the summer.
Early July? It is a guess. Take a plant and prune each stem at a different time, mark them, and see what you get next year.
My question, if you prune a type 2 incorrectly one year will it bloom the next year if you prune it again?
It will flower the same way every year.
I have Barbara Jackman clematis, which group it is ? thank
If you google it- you can find out.
Could you tell me what gauge the wire is you use? I made the mistake as you said of using a trellis and so they don't climb very well. Also, I have an Alba luxuriance which is apparently Group 3, so I went to cut it down but there is only 1 main stem unlike yours that has a lot, it does have 2or 3 buds at the base but that's it, how do I get it to get more. stems do I need to fertilize it. I am in Canada zone 4 and this plant is about 4 yrs old and doesn't do very well I do mulch it.
Not sure what I have, but next time I will get something a bit bigger. Anything smaller than a pencil works.
You need time - they do grow more stems once established. I don't fertilize mine, or anything in the garden.
If it blooms before June don't prune.
I think your mystery clematis is “Clematis viticella Kiev”
Lol