Need to know how best to look after Clematis over the cold months and if/when they should be cut back.?

Clematis are in 2 groups. You need to determine which group yours is. If you Google it you should be able to find out.


If it,s the group that needs to be cut down each year, I used to do mine every February. Cut it all the way down to about 12 inches from the ground, you have to be quite ruthless. It will bloom in all it's glory each year and grow back to it's last years length.


But do determine which group you are in......happy gardening!!


By the way....Clematis need to have their feet cool (a shady spot) but their heads in full sunshine. And don't forget to feed them.

Need to know how best to look after Clematis over the cold months and if/when they should be cut back.?
no need to worry about winter, they are very strong.
Reply:They'll be ok in the cold.





Early flowerers should be cut back in Autumn. Late flowerers should be cut back in Spring.





Keep the root systems out of direct sunlight.
Reply:If you know what kind of clematis you have you can look up which type of pruning it needs, if any. If you don't know you can just prune it back to a bud in early spring, or don't prune it at all and see how it does. Its a good idea to make sure your clematis is planted a few inches deeper than it was in its pot, to keep it from dying back entirely. They are fine in winter, just look ugly then. In spring feed it some epsom salts and tomato food.
Reply:Different varieties should be pruned differently. You'll need to specify what type you've got, to get the info straight.


Some varieties like to be trimmed and shaped in the fall or spring, depending on whether they bloom on old or new growth. Best rule of thumb: If it blooms early, it blooms on last year's growth, so prune as soon at the bloom is finished each spring. If it blooms late, it blooms on this year's growth, so clean up the plants in very early spring (Feb or March in most places). On the very early flowering varieties, it's best to not prune too hard after each year's production. The mid-summer and later blooming varieties can be worked over pretty hard to get more branching for the following year's bloom.


As to winter care, clematis are quite hardy and if you're in temperate zones, you'll not need to do anything much to keep it alive over the winter. Mulch to keep roots a bit insulated and you're good to go.
Reply:i live in glasgow and i never touch my clematis and they thrive.
Reply:If it's a spring flowering Clematis Montana, it doesn't need pruning, only if it outgrows the space. Large summer flowering hybrids should be cut to about 12 inches in autumn or winter.
Reply:Clematis is very tough and will not freeze.





In the winter it will adopt that "dried / dead plant" look so that just before spring it will typically look, to the untrained eye, like it has died. I actually know some people who cut down a huge Clematis because they thought it was dead - thus depriving themselves of a huge and beautiful plant on the side of their terrace!





It does not need to be cut back. But it grows quite quickly and you may find yourself having to cull it to prevent any "invasion" ;-)





Hope this helps
Reply:If your plant is south facing and protected from wind and frost


a mulch around the base should protect the root do not prune


the plant at all flowers grow from this years growth .the plant takes on a dead look !. this is normal next year you will have loads more flowers put a wire across the area the plant is near or trellis .tip remove dead flowerheads
Reply:have cut mine right back just leave them and they will grow back
Reply:just one line you need to learn flowers before june do not prune after that as low as you like