If the plant was frozen down to the ground, then the initial main pruning has been done for you. The thing to remember is that one of the types of pruning that has been recommended here is that you should prune any clematis that is recently planted the following spring . In other words, if you plant a new clematis this spring, then it should be allowed to grow this season (with some main shoot pruning described below) and then next spring, you would prune it down to within 3 or 4 nodes from the ground level.

There is also another type of pruning that has been recommended here and that is pinching out the growing tips of any shoots that come up. This encourages the plant to develop axial shoots that will increase the number of vines you have. This is done in addition to the harder pruning described above.

Now that your plant has come up, it would still benefit from pinching out the growing tips on the emerging shoots.

Following are some pictures of a type III clematis that was cut back in late winter and the pinching out of the main shoots.

Pruned back clematis as described initially above. Pruning done in the winter to within 3 or 4 nodes.

{{gwi:576462}}

The new shoots come up the following spring and the main shoots are pinched out to encourage lateral axial buds to develop (second type of pruning described above).

{{gwi:576463}}

{{gwi:583536}}

Those are great pictures showing pinching.

When I buy a Clematis and I have only bought 1 gallon pots, I do prune them down to 12" when I plant them. I've bought plants that had 4' of vines wound around and around. If they are flowering, I enjoy the flowers then prune and plant.

N,

For how long into the spring/summer should the pinching be continued?

Thanks!

Coloradobird, I imagine it could be done indefinitely but I tend to do it twice or so and then let the plant do its thing the rest of the year. One thing though is that many of mine are cut back hard (maybe by half or so) after the initial flower display, fertilized well and kept watered, and will bloom again for me before frost.

Thanks! I will do as you do, since you obviously have a lot of experience with this. The photos were also very helpful.