'Polish Spirit' is a pruning group 3 or a "hard prune" clem variety, meaning it should be cut back to about 16-18" or the third set of buds from the ground each season (like right about now). This hard prune should eliminate any awkward growth. Since this clem blooms on new growth - hence the group 3 designation - there is no concern that pruning now will in any way reduce bloom potential.

Just an FYI; planting deeply and using an organic fert containing alfalfa meal or just the meal itself will encourage additional stem production from the root crown. You will need to gently train these stems to direct in the desired growth.

gardengal, thank you for your response. I particularly appreciate the advice for stimulating growth from the root crown.

I know how to prune this Clematis and in fact already hard pruned it when it was transplanted. Thanks to the unseasonably/freakishly-warm weather we've had, it's already halfway up the trellis.

What I want to know is if other Clematis lovers/growers do selective pruning of some stems while it is growing, just to thin it out a bit.

Somehow in my garden, Clematis and "neater appearance" don't go together. I've planted them where they can grow, weave, and spill to their hearts' content, though occasionally I will tuck ends in to get them growing in a particular direction. I want as many exuberant flowers as possible. I don't prune them selectively for shape, but I do hard prune both 2 and 3 group plants which tend to die down to the snow line.