How to prune a clematis (I think its clematis)? I have a very overgrown plant. Its hasn't flowered this year or last and needs to be pruned back. I like the coverage of the wall and would like it to flower again. What can I do?
@v_shram Has it flowered in the past? It looks like C Montana, have you pruned it in the past? You may have pruned it at the wrong time of year. Normally after flowering in late spring. At this point you can cut it back hard and it will be fine. Different clematis have different pruning times. Always important to know which one you have so that you don't prune just as flowers are developing.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
It looks like a montana @v_shram - and they flower in spring, with a smaller, later flush around September or so. Is that what you've seen in the past? Normally they only need pruned if they're outgrowing their space, but it can also rejuvenate them. I think some folk had zero flowering this year as the cold spell in March affected the new buds. Our season here is later, so most weren't affected round here and flowered as normal. You can prune it back quite hard now, although that will probably mean no flowers next year, as they flower on the existing framework they have. However, it should give it a boost. If you clear away any weeds around the base and give it a good watering, and a mulch of some fresh compost or rotted manure, or just add some slow release food, that should help to get it growing again. If you do the slow release food, it'll benefit from a bit of compost over that as well. You may find it'll produce enough growth that hardens well enough, and produces a few buds for next spring. It'll just depend on where you are and how well it responds.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I would give it a really good drink … several buckets a week until mid September and some Fish, blood and bone fertiliser and then I’d leave it alone … it should flower next spring … when the flowers have faded that is when I’d give it a good cutting back, some more fish blood & bone fertiliser and another good drink every week until mid September.
Carry on like that and you should be able to keep it under control and have lots of flowers. 😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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Different clematis have different pruning times. Always important to know which one you have so that you don't prune just as flowers are developing.
Normally they only need pruned if they're outgrowing their space, but it can also rejuvenate them. I think some folk had zero flowering this year as the cold spell in March affected the new buds. Our season here is later, so most weren't affected round here and flowered as normal.
You can prune it back quite hard now, although that will probably mean no flowers next year, as they flower on the existing framework they have. However, it should give it a boost.
If you clear away any weeds around the base and give it a good watering, and a mulch of some fresh compost or rotted manure, or just add some slow release food, that should help to get it growing again. If you do the slow release food, it'll benefit from a bit of compost over that as well.
You may find it'll produce enough growth that hardens well enough, and produces a few buds for next spring. It'll just depend on where you are and how well it responds.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
and have lots of flowers. 😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.