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Overgrown Clematis
thefosters
Posts: 78
I have inherited a very overgrown clematis and the stems are thick and woody. I have no idea which variety it is so can I still cut it well back after winter or should I only cut into the softer stems.
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Most clematis cope well with severe haircuts. As you don't know what variety it is I would cut it hard back in spring. Worst case, you don't get any (or many) flowers in the first year.
As KT says, if you cut it back hard you risk losing the flowers fo rthe next season but you will have a rejuvenated plant. Wait until early or late March - depending on how severe a winter we get - and then prune it back to just two or three buds on each stem. Pull away all the unwanted growth and then give it a generous feed of proper clematis fod - available in good garden centres - and an instant liquid tonic of rose or tomato food.
Once it does flower, note the month and colour and size of flowering and you can look it up on this site - http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/. A general pruning rule is that if it flowers before the end of June you prune after flowering. If it flowers from July onwards, you cut it back in March. The clematis site explains in more depth.
Huge thick woody stems are often the result of neglecting Clematis montana varieties. They are very hard to kill! I would let it flower before you do anything, unless it's really in the way. Then cut it hard back in summer if you want to.
Many thanks to everyone for the advice. I really need to cut the plant hard back or I may have to stop using my front door so I will do it in the spring and see what happens the following year
Did you end up cutting back your clematis? I've just cut one right back to its woody stumps (too mangled to save any green stuff) and I'm wondering if, when and how it will reshoot again.
I cut a montana back like that last year after it flowered, it was very old and woody, last year it grew long stems and this year I am sure it will flower.
Is it too late now to 'chop' clematis right back. I too have inherited a very straggly, woody stemed one that is covering my porch windows!! Will I kill it if I chop it to say 12" from the bottom or is that too drastic?
I think I'd 'tidy' it now and then cut it hard back after it's flowered
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.