Clematis Pruning

harmony · February 2019

Hi all, beautiful day in Yorkshire 😄
Just noticed my clematis Perle de Azure sprouting, it is growing up an old tree covered in ivy and is in sun in the morning and dappled shade in the afternoon. The new growth is about 3/4ft above the base and has a few nodules further down which are dormant. Need advice on how to prune it if at all. The roots are shaded with hardy geranium. I cut it right back a few years ago and since then it has not done much at all ( probably my fault) so really want to try to improve it if I can, I could find a sunnier spot if I need to.

Rubytoo · February 2019

They do need a lot of good feed, perhaps with the ivy and tree there it is struggling a bit.
They also need a fair bit of watering too. it will have a lot of competition from the ivy.

Is it possible that slugs or snails are eating or ate new ground level shoots, do check for them, snails like evergreen things like Ivy and can sit on the back of leaves during the day.

I believe Perle is treated as a group 3 clematis so cut back to the ground or near in March.
Is that what you did last year then got a poor result?

I learned recently from a gentleman who knows a bit about clematis, that the stems on this old variety have a long gap between the leafy sections so I thought yours looks stretched but actually it would be normal for it.
( I am buying one for my old aunty who left hers behind when she moved).

So try giving it a good feed for general growth, and do not get the food on the stems, put it on the root area. And a liquid one like tomato food later on a month or so before expected flowering time.

And have a good check for things that go munch in the night.

It is a very nice older variety :)Good Luck.

Edit !!!
How many old stems are there?
I read that some viticellas won't or don't grow from the base if they have not been cut back low or well pruned in the past.

Do hold off cutting it until someone who knows better can advise you. I realize I said cut back but that is what I have done with mine from the start. Sorry.
A taller old one might not like it.

Fairygirl · February 2019

I'd reckon its been very short of water. That's what it'll need more than anything.
Can you lift it and plant it somewhere else? Far too much competition there for it do well. You could pot it up and let it grow on a bit first.

Should have said - it's a Group 3, so you would normally prune right back at this time of year, but it's not had a chance to thrive. It should be covering a fair size of support by now if it's several years old. If you lift and replant, bury it a bit deeper too, so that it send up more shoots

Stevedaylilly · February 2019

As previous comments have said, it’s will definitely be in competition for water and nutrients with the tree, ivy and geranuim. Clematis need good fertile humus rich soil and regular feeding up to flowering. As already suggested, I would dig it up carefully and replant where it will not be is such completion for food and water. Once you’ve replanted sinking the plants deeper in to the soil I would suggest giving is a top dressing of Fish blood and bone. Water that in and then multched over with bark chip, garden compost or farm yard manure. This will keep the root ball moist and stop drying out and weeds. Most clematis enjoy shade at their base with the top growth in sun, so attempt to put it in that position. Shade can be created by planting a ground cover plant near its base but not so that it’s competing with the clematis
Then every 2 weeks give in a tomato feed to the roots and hopefully it should show signs of new growth in a few weeks

harmony · February 2019

Thanks for all the info, there's only one stem so as Rubytoo suggests ive not pruned properly in the past. If I dig it up and replant do I cut back even if the lower nodules are still dormant.

Fairygirl · February 2019

It's not the pruning that's the problem harmony, it's just the location.

It's never going to thrive there, so it's better to try and get it out. Soak it well to make it easier, pot it up and just take off any dead growth back to a good pair of buds or a healthy looking bit of greenery. You might break a few roots here and there getting it out, but don't worry, it'll gain more as it grows.
Plant it a bit deeper than it's been. It probably won't have a very big root system anyway, so it shouldn't be too hard to get it out. Use some soil based compost, and a pot with good depth. Water it thoroughly and put it somewhere sheltered, and out of strong sun and let it grow all this year until it's a decent size.
Don't throw food at it - just keep it watered. It'll have enough food to last it until summer anyway, and by then it may need potting on again. Let us know how it is, and we can advise further.

harmony · February 2019

Thanks Fairygirl I will do that in the next few days. The new growth is about 3/4ft up the stem (and there is only one stem) and below there are dormant nodules so not sure what to do about that. Do I cut back below the new growth. Thanks

Fairygirl · February 2019

I think you'd have to cut it back then harmony. If you get it out successfully, it'll struggle to support it. If it has lower buds appearing, those should grow on well enough.
It's one of those awkward calls though- if you leave it, it's probably never going to amount to much. If you lift it, there's always a chance it will be in a poorish state, but you have nothing to lose either way.
If you decide to lift it, take your time, and try and get as much root as possible. A good soaking beforehand should help to ease it out. If you want, you could also wait until those lower buds grow a litttle bit.
I'd certainly go for it - they can be surprisingly robust

Richard Hodson · February 2019

I think it looks in excellent condition for a Perle d'Azure in Yorkshire, in February. I would cut it hard back to just above the lowest visible dormant leaf node. Excellent cutting material there, also. Growing through a host tree is natural for clematis and looks much better than being plastered on a wall. A good soaking with a hose pipe for about 20 minutes would be beneficial, make sure that the water gets down to the roots, some gardeners chop the base off a plastic pop bottle, turn it upside down and bury it when planting, leaving the base just visible above ground level, then water is sure to get to the roots. In posher areas I believe some people use old champagne bottles with just a glimpse of label showing.

harmony · February 2019

Haha Richard, i'll have to make do with a cola bottle.
Thanks for your post, you've got me thinking I should leave it and do as you suggest because when it was flowering well it looked beautiful with the ivy. Thankyou

Clematis Pruning

Posts