Hard pruning the first couple of years will help more vines emerge from the soil..and different varieties will do different things..My clematis "Claire de Lune" was hard pruned 2 years in a row and still is a one vine wonder...Jeanne
ps..My "Niobe" and "Dr. Ruppel" responded well to my hard pruning and I now have many vines...

They grow this way naturally if not hard pruned the first few years to get them to send up more vines. Especially if purchased in a small pot. Gallons often have multiple vines when purchased.

I'm testing alfalfa tea to see if it works on mine. I bought it yesterday. I have a couple that have been hard pruned and still only have one stem.

Make sure and let us know if the alfalfa tea works for you BorS. It is the latest rage for rose growers who swear that it stimulates new basal growth from the crown. If nothing else, it is loaded with nutrients that can't be help your plants!

I will report back for sure.

Miguel..I've been using Alfalfa Tea on mine since planting in my new gardens...they've responded well for me..especially since most of my clematis are planted with climbing roses
BOS..I've noticed when I hard prune my clematis that I saw more vines emerge from the ground..so you don't think hard pruning assisted in this?..I still don't understand why "Claire" wants to be a one vine wonder?..that is the only one..I just hard pruned "Mrs. Chumley" and she shot up a new vine as well as "The President"...Jeanne

Yes, I think hard pruning helps get more vines up from the ground. For sure.

However, I have several that it hasn't worked on. Even after two or three hard prunes.

That is why I'm trying the alfalfa tea.

Ok..I thought so..well..since I've applied Alfalfa tea to mine for the past 3 years..more vines could be from both of them? ..I know Alfalfa tea is like putting plants on steroids..LOL...You should see my Loquat Tree and Roses they have grown like mad!!.....Jeanne

Jeanne, I know you have been using alfalfa tea after hearing about it. I have used it but not consistently as I tend to use what is available at the time I am fertilizing. Right now all I am trying to do is keep the clematis here alive due to the heat and dry conditions!

I hear that...I hope you win the lottery hon so you can put in a sprinkler system..I'm still having to go out and water my hanging baskets and some others areas ..can't imagine not having my sprinkler system..I apply my Alfalfa Tea along with my first dose of fertilizer in March..May..July and then I stop for the year..also...I plan on just putting some alfalfa pellets in with the soil when I plant my new clematis this fall....will let you know how that works next year...Jeanne

I have a 5 year old clematis that has about 20 shoots. It was moved 4 times in those 5 years (although it could have been 6 years) each time planting it 2-4 inches deeper. Dig up your one stemmed clematis up in spring when the vine is about a foot tall, remove some of the leaves and plant it deeper.

Jeanne, I have mixed in alfalfa pellets in the soil when planting clematis and really like doing it that way since then they are in direct contact with the soil and decompose in the root area of the plants as the soil is wet. I have also taken some of them, put them in a bag and pulverized them with a rubber mallet. Makes them decompose that much faster.

I do have several drip irrigation systems and soaker hoses Jeanne. However when the ground is as dry as it is here, the surrounding soil wicks the moisture away from the areas you have watered and you end up having to water that much sooner. Working at night also doesn't help since I have to run the systems during the day instead of during the evening. What we really need is the remnants of a tropical storm/hurricane to come through and get the soil ground water level up.

You can also buy alfalfa meal and use in potting mix...works quicker...Jeanne

Jeanne haven't seen alfala meal for sale at the local Feed and Seed store, hence the need to pound up the pellets.

Dr. Earth makes it. That is what I bought. It was cheap.

My single stem Clems all were planted deep. Two have been moved and planted deeper and on more of an angle.

Last year I broke a single stemmed "The President." I thought that I had killed it. Jeanne advised me to wait and not be too quick to dig it up. This year it popped out of the ground with 4 healthy stems. It was my accidental prunning. This is my first year for 14 plants that I purchased in 2006. The broken plant has more stems than any of the others. No more fear to cut them back. When I was one year old to the day my mom had my head shaved bald. She did this so that I would have a full thick head of hair. She was right and it worked so why not for our precious little plants.

BorS, I am sure I can probably mail order alfalfa meal but if the local source for alfalfa pellets for a 50# bag is only $9.00, then for me it makes more sense to pound up the pellets.

Good analogy Robin! Wish more people would take the advise to cut them back to get more stems. I would venture to say it works in more cases than it doesn't.

Thanks everyone!! So how far do I cut them back to the ground and when? Is it something I can just do now or should I wait until fall or spring?

Chelsie

Chelsie, based on the time of year, I would wait until next spring and prune them all back hard. I would have to see the specific plants to make the best recommendation but generally speaking I would go down to 6 inches or so.