In my zone 7a garden, I trim all my type III and sometimes my type II clematis back in late December. Some people wait until late winter or early spring to do so. Any time after the plants have gone dormant and aren't likely to be reawakened into growth by pruning is fine for your pruning.

You didn't say what clematis types you have but since they were just planted this year, all types that you planted should be trimmed back in winter to early spring to within 4 or so inches of the ground.

I have used various things for mulching my clematis including grass clippings, homemade compost if it is available, pine needles, and various types of wood mulch. I have mulch around my clematis year round as it helps maintain constant soil moisture and soil temperature during all seasons. It also decomposes and adds tilth to the soil and draws earthworms to the area and they in turn will deposit their castings as fertilizer for your clematis.

Unless you live in climate where clematis don't go dormant or won't go dormant until late in the winter, you should not be fertilizing clematis at this time of year.

Hope that helps.

nckvilledudes, thank you so much! I am off to read about different types of clematis (I didn't know this). Anyway, I did plant Asao, HF Young, Fireworks, Miss Bateman and Nellie Moser. Since you mentioned the first year I should trim back 4 inches from the ground at the correct time, that really helps! I have used everything from leaf clippings to organic mulch for my other vine flowers. I am in Ohio and sometimes our Winters can be somewhat harsh, I tend to use more organic woodish mulch. Thanks again!

I believe those are all type II's. I highly encourage you to cut them off short as Miguel suggested not only in late winter/early spring 2009 but 2010 as well. II's tend to want to grow long and scraggly. At least for me they do. You want as many stems coming up from the ground as possible.

Mato, I had to chuckle. You went a little overboard?

My first year and I am already up to 24 clems. And, we're adding a fenceline on our driveway next year, so guess what, room for more clems to climb up! LOL