I cover mine with leaves in the fall. Then in the spring I cut it back to the mulch line (about a foot from the base). Because the top winter kills I assume that's why it sends up numerous shoots from around the base. Sometimes 10 or more. I'd hard prune, it is a group 3/C variety right? Later Gianty.

After a little more thought I have to wonder why it hasn't grown very much. By the 3rd year it should have established a fair root system which should support good top growth. It might not have the right type of soil or lacks nutrients??? Can you tell me more about how it is cared for and what kind of soil did ya plant it in and how much sun exposure does she get? You know, that kind of stuff. Later Gianty.

It is planted at the front corner of my porch behind a trellis in well amended clay. I fertilize it with rose soil conditioner twice a season (Rosetone). It gets shade on the ground from a dwarf holly but the top gets mostly sun all day and I keep it mulched. I plopped a scarlet runnerbean in front of it a couple years ago to fill in while I waited for the clematis to grow and it reseeded last year. I have mums planted in the bed in front of the clematis as an edging plant that I keep in check by dividing when it starts spreading.

The only thing I can think of disturbing the roots may be the concrete from the porch foundation. It is probably a little more then a foot away from the corner but I would think it still had room to spread it's roots on the other 3 sides.

That is all I can think of. Maybe it would be worth a try to pull out the mums and plant it a couple feet foward from where it is now. The only obsticle then would be a rose bush about 2 1/2-3 feet away and I would have to mulch more to shade the roots.

clematis can be slow to get going. They are "first year sleep, second year creep, and third year leap" plants. I'd give it some time and fertilizer and see what it does this year.

Yes, cut it just above the new growth at the bottom and fertilize it often and keep it moist.

The concrete shouldn't be a problem.

Although, I've sometimes read that clematis do well in clay based soils, I have not experienced such for myself. They really seem to prefer soils highly amended with peat moss, compost and well rotted manure. This mixture will thus be light, friable and free draining. If I were you, I'd be inclined to dig up the clematis and rework the soil, and yes, do dig a very large planting hole!

Terry