Comtesse de Bouchard - too late to cut back in Zone 9

9 years ago

Comtesse de Bouchard has been a lovely clematis for over 8 years but the Dogwood it was growing up had to be removed. I just put a wood t-pee structure for it to climb up but it is a tangled mess. I know I should have done it two months ago. Any chance I could cut it back to 18" or so or is it too late for this year? I live in San Jose,Ca. Thanks

Ginny

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

9 years ago

It is never too late to prune a clematis :-) Yes, it could delay or alter bloom time but in a mild climate with a long growing season, it is not going to have much of an impact.

When I worked for a wholesale grower of clems, the vines used to get cut back routinely every month or so just to keep the pots/vines from becoming tangled up with each other. All this did was to encourage more basal stem growth, generally considered a good thing :-) Never affected the flowering to any significance.

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Comments (7)

Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca
9 years ago
Hi Ginny ! I had this Clem once and it was so so pretty ! I think if you need to cut it you should. It's still pretty early , you may just have to wait a little longer for blooms . You gotta do what ya gotta do ! Even if it's painful at the time, it may even make more vines from the cuts! Good luck and please share photos when it's in its glory!
ginjj
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the suggestion Lily, I think I'll do it. If I remember and it's easy, I'll post a picture because it is a beauty.
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NHBabs z4b-5a NH
9 years ago
If it hasn't started forming flower buds, I'd go for it, but perhaps not down to 18" if it is fully leafed out. How would cutting it to more like 3'-4' look? If you need to do 18", go for it.
ginjj
Original Author
9 years ago
No flower buds but lots of leaves and growth; a tangled mess! Thanks for your opinion.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
9 years ago
I know a clematis grower who lives in a warmer setting who whacks back her type 3 prune plants when bloom starts tapering off, and her season is long enough that she often gets a good rebloom on them.
ginjj thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
ginjj
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you all for your advice, I will definitely cut it back without hesitation now that several of you have told me to it!! It does sound logical but I'm always hesitant to try something new and dramatic.