Pinching the top out on a new clematis is recommended so it will focus on getting its roots established...as you most probably know Clematis "Pillu" is a pruning group 2 which means no prune except to shape and keep in bounds AFTER its bloom period is over BUT, I always treat my pruning group 2's like pruning group 3's their first season to aid in that root development and to have a stronger clematis...you won't really prune this year but come late winter/early Spring I would hard prune it next year and fertilize with some Rose fertilizer or Tomato Fertilizer..then from then on..treat it like a pruning group 2 as it should be..."Pillu" will give you single blooms on the new wood but in future years after you have let it be its pruning group 2 ..you will see the beautiful double blooms on the previous seasons wood that makes us all want to have this beauty in our gardens....Goodluck...Jeanne

Yes Piilu is one of my favorites. I just bought one myself this year. Here is my first flower on mine :0) Golden

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Unless a clematis changes its pruning group when it changes continents, Roogoja Farms, where "Piilu" and many other popular clematis were bred by the Kivistik family, suggests cutting back to 15 cm (6 inches) in October.

I now have 7 Kivistik clematis - I know if they are hardy in Estonia, they will be hardy for me!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Pruning Kivistik clematis

"Roogoja Farms, where "Piilu" and many other popular clematis were bred by the Kivistik family, suggests cutting back to 15 cm (6 inches) in October. "
But they bloom the DOUBLES on OLD WOOD..so, if you do that every year...how will you ever get the double bloom?..Every one I know treats it like a Pruning group 2..this only makes sense to me?..Jeanne