When to cut back clematis?

13 years ago

I left the long stems on my Jackmanni over the winter months. I'm in zone 8a, Fraser Valley, BC

Soon I will be cutting them back to about (I think) 8-12 inches from the ground? But, I'm not sure when the best time would be to do this. Can someone please help me with this?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

buyorsell888
13 years ago
Soon!

I'm trying to hold off until about Feb 15 here in Portland. Weather is nice now though and I'm having a hard time waiting.

Yes, you do want to cut them that short.
gardenbug
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks BorS,
I appreciate your help. It's been pretty cold here for the last couple of days. The ground froze overnight and you could see frost heave in the soil. I think I will hold off for another couple of weeks or so too. Thanks for the tip. All my best to you.
Related Discussions
Question about cutting clematis back
Q
Comments (7)
Don't be alarmed if they stop growing for a while. The ones I have cut back have had little or no new grow above the soil, but still look healthy. So, if I prune them back hard this fall they will be slow in the spring? I haven't decided yet when to prune them. I for sure want to enjoy the flowers right now so I'm waiting for that. I was wondering, though, if I cut them back in the fall (maybe September-ish) are they going to be tricked into growing again right away? But I think you answered that question before I even asked it! Thanks! Kristy :)
...See More
When do I cut back my clematis?
Q
Comments (4)
I whack my type IIIs off at six inches because I prefer new growth up from the ground rather than from last years vines but most won't cut that severely. It is up to you. You can start at the ground and go up to the closest set of buds and cut just above them.
...See More
cut back all types of clematis?
Q
Comments (11)
Clematis pruning can tend to be overly and unnecessarily complicated. Having grown a vast number of these vines for many years, IMO it can be simplified into those you prune and those you don't :-) In the 'no prune' category are any evergreen types and those that may bloom either in late winter or very early spring (usually species). And even these can be pruned as desired, but immediately after flowering, as they bloom on previous seasons' growth. Most of the rest - spring and summer blooming LFH's and the late summer/fall bloomers - do get pruned back on an annual basis, primarily to tidy the vine and keep the flowers at eye level. Various sources will tell you that you need to observe when the vine blooms and then prune either lightly (if a type 2/early to mid) or hard (if a type 3/mid to late). But in areas with a long growing season - like GA or here in the PNW - you can take all these vines back pretty hard and not worry excessively about 'light' or 'hard' pruning. All a hard pruning will do for a type 2 (light) is just push the flowering out a few weeks. I think even our friend Babs, who lives in NH and is a very experienced grower of clems, does a hard prune on type 2's. It just makes life so much easier, especially if one grows a lot of different clematis, to simplify matters into either the prune or no-prune camp and ignore the rather nit-picky or "refined" pruning instructions :-) It is almost impossible to kill or even severely damage a clematis by pruning.........and there is also NO rule that says you must prune.
...See More
Cut back group 3 clematis mid season to rebloom?
Q
Comments (12)
Everywhere is going to offer different growing conditions and that's going to affect the timing of flowering as well. Here it is almost September and my triternata 'Rubromarginata', 'Sweet Summer Love' and 'My Angel' are showing no signs of flowering yet. Durandii is my only 3 that is currently flowering and it will continue until October without any need to cut back. I will say that up until late July, our summer had been unusually cooler than normal but since then, we have had stretches of very warm - for us - weather with a higher percentage of upper 80's - low 90's than typical. If you have group 3's flowering as early as June, then by all means I would see if you can encourage a rebloom by some moderate pruning. I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to cut back too severely. Wouldn't hurt the vine at all but I'd be afraid of eliminating any rebloom.
...See More
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
13 years ago
It's best to resist the temptation to cut back too early :-) Pruning/cutting back encourages the plant to push new growth, which it may very well do during warmer periods. However, we can still get some pretty cold weather and any new growth that might be present will be damaged or killed. So pruning early will not necessarily put you ahead of the game but could even set you back.

Mid February to early March is the target date, weather depending, or when the forsythia is in bloom. And it won't hurt the vine at all if cutting back occurs a bit later.
jeanne_texas
13 years ago
I always hard prune my pruning group 3's on Valentine's Day...or to calibrate for your area...same time you prune your Roses or when the Forsynthias are in bloom..I "shape" my Pruning group 2's & 1's after they are showing their new leaf buds..so I'll know which vines are still viable after their winter nap..Jeanne
ps..don't forget to feed them their Alfalfa Tea and Rose or Tomato Fertilizer at the same time..
gardenbug
Original Author
13 years ago
This is good advice. I will certainly wait awhile longer. Thanks very much to each of you for your helpful advice.

jeanne: Thanks for letting me know what to feed them and when to feed them. I will definitely do this. I appreciate your help.
hertrains
13 years ago
My Jackmani has new shoots about 4 inches long, way up at the top of the vine. Is it too late to prune them back so the blossoms are lower?
bob414
13 years ago
Go ahead and prune it. It won't hurt the plant. I've pruned them when they had more new growth than that and it didn't hurt them.
pippi21
13 years ago
Need to plant something in front of and beside my Comtesse de Bouchard clematis. The clematis is planted at corner of garage, up against the brick facing. The area is about 5 ft.long and about 18 inches deep. Clematis like something planted at their feet to shade their roots. There is about a 3 ft. blank space of brick facing that needs something there, no taller than 2 1/2-3 ft. Preferrable a perennial that will reseed and go with the clematis color. That area would be getting the afternoon sun. I'm thinking of maybe a mass planting of coneflowers, Becky Daisy, lupine, bee balm, maybe peach leaf campanula, even old black eye susans or something similar that would reseed and cover that space. Possibly Profusion series of zinnias?
Zinnias are an annual though.
winston1425
13 years ago
The Clamatis "Paniculata" is advertized as Sweet Autum Clamatis also. I am wondering whether they are the same plants or different plants.

What I really want is the Clamatis Paniculata.

Can someone clarify this?

Thank you.
bob414
13 years ago
Clematis Paniculata, Clematis Terniflora (Sweet Autumn>.

Related Stories

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: Rose + Clematis for Small-Space Impact

By Le jardinet

We all need somebody to lean on. And when a rose supports a climbing vine, the results can totally transform a small garden

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Clematis Virginiana

By Pollination Press LLC

Devil’s darning needles, a vigorous vine native to eastern North America, likes partial shade and many types of soils

Full Story

CONTRACTOR TIPS Building Permits: When a Permit Is Required and When It's Not

By Matt Clawson

In this article, the first in a series exploring permit processes and requirements, learn why and when you might need one

Full Story

139

GARDENING GUIDES 7 Ecofriendly Gardening Ideas That Also Cut Chore Time

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Spend less time weeding, less money watering and more moments just sitting back and enjoying your healthy garden

Full Story

FLOWERS Best Cutting-Garden Beauties for Late Summer

By Paintbox Garden

Pick blooms bursting with color or in classic white for bouquets to give away or keep all to yourself

Full Story

DECORATING GUIDES Room Doctor: 10 Things to Try When Your Room Needs a Little Something

By Laura Gaskill

Get a fresh perspective with these tips for improving your room’s design and decor

Full Story

MORE ROOMS Where to Put the TV When the Wall Won't Work

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

See the 3 Things You'll Need to Float Your TV Away From the Wall

Full Story

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Counters: Try an Integrated Cutting Board for Easy Food Prep

By Christine Tusher

Keep knife marks in their place and make dicing and slicing more convenient with an integrated butcher block or cutting board

Full Story

BASEMENTS Basement of the Week: Smart Cost Cutting, Beautiful Results

By Becky Harris

A stylish multipurpose basement for less than half the usual cost? See the budget-saving tricks that helped this underground space

Full Story

By Mary Jo Bowling

Houzz readers prove adept at snatching victory from the jaws of entertaining defeat

Full Story

127

When to cut back clematis?

Comments (10)

buyorsell888

gardenbug
Original Author

Related Discussions

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

jeanne_texas

gardenbug
Original Author

hertrains

bob414

pippi21

winston1425

bob414

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

When to cut back clematis?

Comments (10)

gardenbugOriginal Author

Related Discussions

gardenbugOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

gardenbug
Original Author

gardenbug
Original Author