PcnwGrdngirl...It really is too early to be pruning your clematis...if you do prune now..the new growth that will emerge will only be zapped by a winter freeze...I am not sure what time is proper for your zone but here in my Zone 8B I prune mine around Feb. 14th or you can calibrate for you when the Forsynthias are in bloom or at the same time you usually prune your roses...so I would hold off...Clematis "Warsaw Nike" is a pruning group 3 and should be hard pruned to about an inch above the 3rd leaf axil in Late Winter/early Spring as it blooms on the new vines produced during the growing season......Clematis "Carnaby" is a pruning group 2 which isn't pruned till after it is bloomed and only to shape and keep in bounds BUT it won't hurt to hard prune it IF you really feel it's a mess...it will delay the bloom time...Pruning group 2's will bloom in Spring and again in late Summer/early fall...and some intermittently..hope this helps...Jeanne

I'm not sure I'd be overly concerned about pruning now if the issue moved me :-) I prune my clematis at various times of the year, mostly at my convenience, not when the books say is necessarily appropriate. Pruning in winter does not encourage any more new growth than what would typically appear in a zone 8 winter, so no worries there. I have yet to lose or even experience any serious damage on an established clematis by doing so. I might be less adventurous with a newly planted vine, however, and wait until late winter - Valentine's Day is a good marker.

Jeanne ~ Hard to believe we're the same zone. I'm almost in Canada. We're very close to the water and are in kind of a micro-climate. Anyway, it finally stopped raining! Got some pics taken so you can see what I'm talking about. I have never had Clems before and didn't really know that the right pruning technique was so important. Now I'm determined to learn the right way. The new ones should be hard pruned the first year or so, right? Even if they are group 2's? I am a rose fanatic (LOTS of roses) So I will prune when I prune my roses.
Thanks guys!

Carnaby Mess - Hard prune? Or try to thin out?
{{gwi:574254}}

Nike Warsaw (With New Dawn)- How far down should I prune?
{{gwi:574255}}

As they are new (within the last year or two?), I'd prune them all down to about 18" or the third set of buds from the base. Pruning too much or too little will not have any adverse affect on established clems, other than altering the bloom period, depending on the vine and the technique. We tend to put too much weight onto "proper" pruning techniques for these vines when these tips/techniques are intended to be only guides.

Pruning clems at the same time you prune your roses makes a great deal of sense in the Puget Sound area. It's seasonally appropriate and since you are doing one chore, it's easy to expand to two. And if you combine your clems with roses, it makes even more sense. Also I fertilize both right after pruning - they also appreciate a similar fertilizing formulation and regime and that eliminates duplicating another chore.

We have alot in common I have tons of Roses as well and clematis..My climbing rosa "New Dawn" is companioned with clematis "Comtess de Bouchard"..I agree with gardengal..I prune my clematis and roses at the same time and fertilize..with your Clematis "Warsaw Nike" I would go from the soil up and cut about an inch above the 3rd leaf axil...
On your Clematis "Carnaby" I would prune it down to the 2nd rung from the bottom or leaving only about 1/3 of it left..then you can pull all the cut vines away and slowly work your way up from the soil to untangle the remaining mess and have them ready to be grown up and tidy!! If you would like to view my website you can click on the link below..I have one pic in Clematis that shows proper pruning...

Here is a link that might be useful: Jeanne's Garden

Thanks so much! Jeanne - I peeked at your site and the pic really helped. I looked at your other photos too, what a lovely garden you have! We have a couple of the same roses. Gardengal - Thanks for your suggestions also, it sounds like great advice. I've been here for about 3 years and they just needed serious help. I'm not stressing too hard about it, I just want to learn how to care for them correctly! :o)

The two clems pictured are about 8 years old. Last Fall I planted: Roguchi, Proteus, Huldine, Rhapsody, Galore, Unknown pretty lavender Group 2, Multi-Blue, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Marie Boisselot. I've peeked at them and they all have a couple green tips poking through the soil. Looks like they all made it. I want to get this season, Arctic Queen, Tie Dye and Sweet Autumn Clematis. I never had clems until I moved here and I really like them. They make such wonderful companions to all of my roses!