teddyedwards
Just Arrived
Joined: 01 May 2007
Location: Liverpool, England
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 10:40 pm Post subject: Clematis - Pruning questions |
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Hi all, returning member here (been gone for ages and couldn't remember my username and password.
Anyway, my local plant shop are getting some Clematis in at the weekend and I thought I'd grab a few, but the whole question of pruning puts me off.
Do I really have to prune a clematis? I really just want to be able to plant a few and let them scramble over a fence without having to cut them back each spring.
Does anyone here have experience with un-pruned clematis, who could pass on some advice?
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 11722
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know what others do but I never prune back my clematis unless they become straggly or unruly. They are covered in flowers each year so I must be doing something right!! 
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katsback
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 19 Mar 2007
Location: odessa,MO zone 6
Posts: 445
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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Ive have very old clematis,possibly 20 years old they were such a mess,i pruned off most of it,left about a foot and a half plant.They are doing fine,and not as messy.
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Polly
Thumb Gardener
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2235
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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Ours are about 4 years old and I have never pruned them.
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Netty
Chaotic Gardener
Joined: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Southern Ontario zone 5a
Posts: 4959
PlantStew: 5262 |
| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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I had 2 at my old house. I think they were "The President" and "Nelly Moser". I only pruned them once in all the 12 years there and that was just a light one to cut off some stragglers. That's why I like Clematis so much I think...beautiful blooms and very little care needed.
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teddyedwards
Just Arrived
Joined: 01 May 2007
Location: Liverpool, England
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 5:56 am Post subject: |
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Amazing - since all the clematis sites I looked at kept on about flowering times meaning different times (and ways) to prune. I think I found one that said you didn't have to, but no further detail on what significant effect (if any) it would have on the plant.
Good to hear that you have had success with little or no pruning, so I think I'm going to give it a go.
The shop will have Multi Blue, Cardinal Rouge, Margaret Hunt Madam le Coultre and one other that I can't remember. Thinking of going for the Multi Blue and Madame le Coultre.
Can I just ask about planting - since I need them to cover up a fence, would you plant them evenly spaced along the foot of the fence, or plant in a clump either side and hope they all meet as they wend their way over the fence?
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bethie
Highly Skillful
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Location: WestTennessee (Map)
Posts: 1597
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 10:48 am Post subject: |
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Good luck with your clemmies. They really are an easygoing vine. The only ones you have to prune are the late blooming autumn clemmies since they bloom on new wood. I personally would space them on the fence but of course this is Your call. 
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 11722
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 10:48 am Post subject: |
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I'd plant them evenly spaced out Teddy if I were you. Don't buy too many though as they can be quite vigorous. Also remember to buy odd numbers so that you get a 1,2,3,2,1 set up on your fence rather than 1,2,3,3,2,1 which doesn't look nearly as good.
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Pianolady
Showing Great Promise
Joined: 02 May 2006
Location: Zone 4b Iowa (Map)
Posts: 504
PlantStew: 259 |
| Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 2:00 am Post subject: |
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Pruning
Group 1 (none) - Blooms early. Flowers only on previous year's growth.
Group 2 (light) - Blooms on previous year's growth, and then new growth.
Prune immediately after flowering.
Group 3 (hard) - Blooms on new growth. Prune in late winter when dormant.
I do prune my group 2's when they start looking like a mushroom top with no new growth or flowers at the base. But I still love my group 3's the best, especially Sweet Autumn. I do cut it back hard each year, and it grows back, covering 20' of fence each year!
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teddyedwards
Just Arrived
Joined: 01 May 2007
Location: Liverpool, England
Posts: 20
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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Wow! Is that your Clematis in the pic? It's gorgeous 
Well I got three, two pinks and a purple but have decided that they're not going over the fence after all!
There's a huge dead tree at the very bottom centre of the garden. No leaves at all for the last two Summers. I'm going to plant the Clematis and try to train them up the tree since I really don't fancy trying to cut it down and removing it fromt he garden!
I got a Hagley Hybrid, a Piilu and a Warszawska Nike. Their flowering months differe enough to ensure a display of colour from late Spring through to August, provided they take.
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