"about 1-2 feet from ground then the rest(up around my arbor)is dead wood..
what should I do.."
What you are seeing is called "Bare legs"..some cultivars are notorious for this and nothing can be done about it but to plant something uninvasive in front to hide it..do not prune your clematis as it's a pruning group 2 and shouldn't be pruned except to remove any dead vines or to shape or keep in bounds and ONLY after it has bloomed...Hope this helps...Jeanne

Actually Jeanne, bare legs is the description given to when the lower branches are bare and there is green growth above the old leafless branches. The poster said that the plant is green down low and has bare branches above the green.

Val, cut the clematis back to where you have green growth as this will stimulate dormant axil buds down where the plant is green. You won't get anything out of the deadwood so go ahead and trim it back. And no, it is not too late to prune it.

I thought she meant it was dead looking from about 2 feet up from the ground??..Do I need to have my eyes examined or my brain..LOL..thanks Miguel...Jeanne

Val, Prune off the dead top growth.

I had to read it twice myself, Jeanne.

Don't worry Jeanne. Everyone sees things differently. Actually I am surprised I got it right considering I read it and responded at 3:32am after working 10 hours!

Poor baby...I had no idea you worked those late hours!!..and you have such gorgeous gardens taboot!!..Thanks..I just cancelled the appt with the eye doctor and my Psychologist!!..Tee hee...Jeanne

Thanks so much..and yes I have a lot of green the first couple of feet and then everything above going around my arbor is dead vines..Im going to cut them now..

thanks

val

Too funny Jeanne!!! LOL

Glad to be of help Val.