Clematis Pruning

19 years ago

Hello--I read one of Jeanne's posts and saw a picture of her pruned clematis. Before I start pruning I wanted to make sure I have it right.

I have an Elsa Spaeth and Ville de Lyon. I planted them in the ground last Spring. They're both already about 3 feet tall and pretty bushy with about a dozen buds on each. Should I still prune them back the the 3rd axle? Since they're already so bushy is it too late? Also, how do you determine the 3rd axle? I can tell what the axle is--so do I count to the 3rd one from the bottom? Sorry if that's a dumb question--I'm kind of new to pruning clematis... :)

Thanks for your help!

Denise

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Comments (3)

jeanne_texas
19 years ago
Denise..no question is dumb hon..and you are correct ..you count from the ground up to the third leaf axil...Your Clematis "Elsa Spaeth" is a pruning group 2 (No prune except AFTER they bloom and to keep in bounds...I always hard prune my 2's in year two and then leave them alone and treat like 2's after that) and your "Ville de Lyon"(Hard prune..they bloom on the new vines produced that season) is a pruning group 3..I would go ahead and enjoy the blooms ..Jeanne
buyorsell888
19 years ago
If they are already budded, let them bloom and then hard prune. They both may bloom again after you fertilize them well.
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dmg2242
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you both!! O.K., so I'll wait until they both bloom and then hard prune them both since this is year 2 for both of them. I'll also wait to fertilize until after I prune. I have some Rosetone, so I'll just use that I suppose. I haven't ventured into the land of Alfalfa Tea yet, but I'm sure I'll get there eventually. ;)