One of the most well known companions of roses is the familiar clematis.
We catch of glimpse of these vines climbing backyard arbors and often covering a trellis with large flowers near the front entrances of our homes. When purposely left without a support to wind around and attach tendrils to, we can wonder what the beautiful groundcover is, which is spilling over rocks or a walkway. The versatile vine climbs through roses and other plants, and can even be planted in a container.
Important to the health, care and beauty of this plant is pruning. There are three different groups of clematis which benefit from certain pruning times and methods.
While enjoying other late summer garden perennials in bloom, we have already witnessed the blooming period for "Group One," the Spring or early flowering clematis and also most of the blooming period for "Group Two," the early to mid-season large flowered and double flowered hybrid varieties.
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These first two groups require the least pruning.
"Group One," blooms in the Spring, around April through May. Pruning is not always necessary. These plants may only require a slight clean up of dead wood. It's best to thin out any crowded thick areas, which in turn helps with more flowering in the next year. Shaping the plant right after flowering in early summer with light pruning, by cutting back to healthy buds, is all that is necessary.
Examples of "Group One" clematis include C. alpina, C. armandii, C. Montana, and C. macropetala.
"Group Two" which begins blooming in June, includes the commonly named Nelly Moser, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Henry. The blooms are large double and semi-double hybrids, which bloom first on old wood and later on new growth.
These clematis should not be pruned right after flowering. Pruning should wait until the very early spring, at which time the plant should be pruned before new growth begins. Pruning moderately at this time will help your clematis produce the best, healthy blooms in the summer. First remove old dead wood, then cut some stems back more than others. This will encourage a longer blooming period by staggering bloom times.
Finally, "Group Three" requires the hardest pruning. This group is the late flowering species, small and large flowered hybrids. These bloom from summer to late fall, generally July through September.
Prune "Group Three" clematis in the late winter or early spring as well. After removing dead and dying wood without disturbing young shoots which are emerging around the base of the plant, then cut all stems away from its support. Next, prune the entire clematis six to 18 inches from the ground just as the leaves begin to sprout. "Group Three" varieties bloom on new wood.
Examples of "Group Three" clematis include C. viticella, C. flammula, C. tangutica and C. xjackmanii, or some well known common names such as Duchess of Albany, Countesse de Bouchard and Ville de Lyon.
There is some variation of information regarding pruning of clematis depending upon the source, but it doesn't need to be made more difficult than it is. If unsure of which variety or cultivar you have, then simply pay attention for one season to the flowering time and this will help you determine whether it belongs to "Group One", "Two" or "Three" and thus when it would be best to prune.
Clematis has a range of colors including pinks, purples, reds, whites and yellows. For best results a sunny, well drained location with lime added to the soil at planting time will give your plant a good start in preferred alkaline soil. Soil should be moist but not overly saturated. Performance is best when care is given to keeping the roots shaded or cool, accomplished by a good layer of mulch and even a planting of small perennials at the base.
