Hi westgate,

Clematis On The Web (one of my favorite sites, along with this one) lists Belle of Woking as pruning group II. I have a feeling that if you ask on the Clematis forum they'll suggest you give your clematis a hard prune - almost to the ground - to encourage more vines to grow.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clematis On The Web

Here is an article on pruning of the different groups. According to most info I've seen, your plant falls in that category.

Here is a link that might be useful: Basic info

By the way, now that I've seen the pictures I think I'm a little in love with Belle of Woking. I still really want Tie-Dye, but BofW is now on my short list too... grrr. Damn my lack of space!

I would hard prune it. I had over a dozen Type I and II, no and little prune Clems for almost ten years that were long spindly with bare stems and few flowers. I hard pruned all of them and the results were spectacular. I know hard prune all Clems the first three years or when ever I think they need it.

Some get it twice a year.

I've had nothing but good results, many more vines and many, many more flowers.

I have a few clematis that lived in their pots longer than anticipated while I tried to decide the best place to plant them & what I would tellis them on. They sat for 2 years in what is supposed to be my compost bin & ran roots all over beneath their pots. I got some of them relocated last year & they have very good root systems. I think the heavy pruning is just what they need...get several healthy new vines emerging from the crowns. I know I'll lose some flowers this year, but in the long run it will make better looking plants with heavier blooming.