Pruning Clematis
Pruning clematis is easy if you know when they flower.
- Clematis that produce flowers on the current season's growth bloom from mid-summer on. Prune them at any time, but late winter is ideal. They can be pruned down to a few inches above ground level if live buds exist, or just clean or shape them up.
- Clematis that bloom in the spring and then again in late summer or fall produce flowers on both current season's growth and the previous season's growth. They should be pruned after the first bloom period in the early summer. They tend to grow little, so are typically not pruned much.
- Clematis that bloom only in the spring or early summer produce their flowers only on the previous season's growth. Prune them only as needed immediately after flowering, or most of the next season's blooms will be lost.
- Clematis that are non-climbing typically bloom on the current season's growth. Prune them back to the ground before growth begins each spring.
