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Clematis Arabella - how and when to prune

mansi25jd1k1X9tmansi25jd1k1X9t Posts: 30
in Plants
Hi. I'm a gardening newbie and bought a Clematis Arabella last summer which did really well. I understand I should be pruning it to encourage growth but I am unsure when and how much. Feels scary to cut it all back as I fear losing the plant altogether. Also I can see some green leaves have started to grow. Looking for some advice please. I live in London, UK. Pictures attached

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Just prune it back to that new growth, or further. It's a Group3, so that's done every year. It should be fine to do it now, and you can also refresh the soil it's in and give it some food. It's necessary to keep the growing medium healthy when in a pot   :)

    You'll have to keep tying it in, as it's a diversifolia type, and doesn't climb the same way as most others. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • mansi25jd1k1X9tmansi25jd1k1X9t Posts: 30
    Thanks for the helpful response. How do I refresh the soil without taking the plant out? Wouldn't it damage the roots?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You just remove a layer with your hand, and add new soil.
    If the plant is being correctly watered, the roots will be down well enough that you won't damage them. The soil in pots always settles too, so you may need to add a little extra compost, or similar, during the growing season anyway.
    Just try and avoid covering the growing point too heavily. They're slightly different from the larger flowered varieties which appreciate good coverage to encourage new stems from below ground level. They're more like a standard perennial plant in that sense   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • mansi25jd1k1X9tmansi25jd1k1X9t Posts: 30
    Hi, so I was pruning the Clematis and accidentally cut off one of the new stems from very close to the soil. I feel terrible - will the growth come back again?
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @mansi25jd1k1X9t I think it is too late to panic. I accidently cut a group 3 to the ground years ago it grew better than it had ever done before.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Don't worry about it, it's so easily done. You should get new shoots in a few weeks.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It'll be fine - we've probably all done that at some point.  :)
    I was pruning a clematis a few years ago, and trying very hard to avoid damaging another [slightly earlier] one which grows alongside, and through it. Of course, I snipped the wrong bit.   ;)

    You're very unlikely to kill them with enthusiastic pruning, which is the main thing. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • mansi25jd1k1X9tmansi25jd1k1X9t Posts: 30
    Thanks so much, feel better now! Panic over
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Fairygirl That is more or less what I did!
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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