Montanas are type one clematis which means they only bloom on old wood. Let it grow this year and it will put on a show for you next year.

Thanks, Bob. I would like to start doing this right. I really am not sure that I have ever pruned it in the 11 years that I have lived here, certainly never a hard prune. Anyway, it is definitely starting to leaf out.

I prune my Montana just after it finishes blooming. That gives it a long time to send out new shoots over the summer to become old wood for next spring. The trellis I have it on just can't take the lengths it is capable of growing to.

Originally, I had planted it on a trellis against the house, and when it started growing under the roof shingles, my DH had me move it to an arbor trellis he made me.

I'm not sure about mixing Nelly Moser, which gets pruned differently, with the Montana. Others will know more about that than me.

How wonderful to have such a beautifully flowering clematis with your house purchase!

Judye

I wouldn't recommend combining the two clematis. Montanas are species clematis and are big, vigorous vines once established. They can easily overwhelm a smaller LFH. One of my montanas grows along a 20 foot stretch of fence and through two very large climbing roses and I have to work at keeping it trimmed back so the roses can flourish. And pruning the Nelly would be a headache, although you can let it go unpruned if you wish - it will just be a rather unsightly, tangled mass in winter.

I have Pruned my clemetis, but the leaves are only growing from the top is it to late to prune it to the soil level so it will grow from the bottom I am not sure which one it is it is in a planter and grew quite well last year it was only planted last year.

Thank you polly_2007

Polly, it is not too late. Go ahead and fertilize it after you do.