Clematis Pruning - need your opinions

Hapygdnr · Post by **Hapygdnr** » Jul 05, 2005 3:22 pm

Hi all.
Here's the situation: I have a clematis tangutica var My Angel, which I have discovered is in group 3 (or prune hard in Spring). I found this out in late Spring, and since the plant was already growing,decided not to prune. Well, now the growth is sparse, not sickly, just sparse. I am thinking I should just cut it back now and it will regrow from the base of the plant. Maybe no flowers this way, but I doubt there would have been any anyhow. What would you do?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Jeanne [/u]

Old earth dog · Post by **Old earth dog** » Jul 06, 2005 12:17 am

I'm not sure when the blooming season is on the tangucitas, but being a type III, I suspect it may bloom yet. They flower only on new wood. I wouldn't cut it back till next spring. I'm not sure what your zone 4 winters do to the tangucitas.
Not sure If I'm much of a help either.

Hapygdnr · Post by **Hapygdnr** » Jul 06, 2005 9:16 am

Thanks OED! I was hoping you'd notice this post. It sure is scraggly compared to last year - the first season I had it in my garden. I think I'll wait. BUT I'll be sure to cut it back early next spring - as recomended.

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Jul 06, 2005 8:55 pm

I did that with a 3 type and it did fine the next year. Just make sure you throw some soil up on it this fall to get it come back for certain

Old earth dog · Post by **Old earth dog** » Jul 06, 2005 11:10 pm

Jeanne, I just reread your post about it being scraggly compaired to last year. Any particular reason? to much shade or root competition? They can be prety heavy feeders and do like their own roots kept cool with mulch of some kind.
Jane, good idea about mulching up around it for the winter.

FreakyCola · Post by **FreakyCola** » Sep 21, 2005 1:48 am

I thought I read somewhere that a person pruned their clematis about this time of year & it really screwed them up. They thought it was time to grow after the pruning and the new growth got frost bit & it killed them. Just a thought.