Pruning Clematis - I want to paint the fence and trellis
Discussion
Hi,
I have a large clematis in my garden which I really like. However, I'm only 24 and this is my first house so I know nothing about gardening! I do know that (as you can see from the photos) that my trellis and fence needs sanding down and painting as it's gone green and flaky, and that the clematis has really become a bit too large.
I've seen on a few website that there are 3 different types of clematis and that they need to be pruned differently. Can somebody give me some advice on what to do please? I need to just generally reduce the bulk of the plant and also make it a little easier for me to paint the trellis and fence underneath.
My research has lead me to this but I'm not sure which step I should be following:
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/clematis...
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/clematis...
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/clematis...
This is my clematis in June 2008, it looked very similar last summer, just bigger!
And this is how it looks now
Thanks very much in advance
Dan
I have a large clematis in my garden which I really like. However, I'm only 24 and this is my first house so I know nothing about gardening! I do know that (as you can see from the photos) that my trellis and fence needs sanding down and painting as it's gone green and flaky, and that the clematis has really become a bit too large.
I've seen on a few website that there are 3 different types of clematis and that they need to be pruned differently. Can somebody give me some advice on what to do please? I need to just generally reduce the bulk of the plant and also make it a little easier for me to paint the trellis and fence underneath.
My research has lead me to this but I'm not sure which step I should be following:
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/clematis...
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/clematis...
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/clematis...
This is my clematis in June 2008, it looked very similar last summer, just bigger!
And this is how it looks now
Thanks very much in advance
Dan
Thanks for your help, but your link doesn't work. From wha tI have read it shouldn't be cut until end of February or early March so I'll leave it for the time being. There's so many plants and shrubs in our garden. It looks great in the first couple of photos, in 2008, but it didn't look very good last summer. There's so much to know and so much to look after, we don't really have the time and it's only a small garden!
Nice garden.
The flowering time gives you a clue as to whether it is type a, b or c.
Generally, Summer flowering, prune back in March or as new buds appear.
Early flowering, these ones flower on old wood (last years growth)This doesn't mean they don't flower later too. I have a couple that produce double flowers really early then single flowers durin the summer.
If you want/need to paint the trellis just prune it, it isn't going to die whatever it is. It may take a while to re-establish itself if it is the early flowering type.
(did you consider stain, no pealing in the future)
The flowering time gives you a clue as to whether it is type a, b or c.
Generally, Summer flowering, prune back in March or as new buds appear.
Early flowering, these ones flower on old wood (last years growth)This doesn't mean they don't flower later too. I have a couple that produce double flowers really early then single flowers durin the summer.
If you want/need to paint the trellis just prune it, it isn't going to die whatever it is. It may take a while to re-establish itself if it is the early flowering type.
(did you consider stain, no pealing in the future)
jeff m said:
Nice garden.
The flowering time gives you a clue as to whether it is type a, b or c.
Generally, Summer flowering, prune back in March or as new buds appear.
Early flowering, these ones flower on old wood (last years growth)This doesn't mean they don't flower later too. I have a couple that produce double flowers really early then single flowers durin the summer.
If you want/need to paint the trellis just prune it, it isn't going to die whatever it is. It may take a while to re-establish itself if it is the early flowering type.
(did you consider stain, no pealing in the future)
Thanks very much. We love the garden, it was a real selling point when we looked at the house. It looks a little different now but the main problem is the fact the fences are looking terrible, and the back fence is falling down! No chance that's going to get fixed with that huge bush and rambling rose in the way though! It's leaning against the evergreens in the garden behind so it's not a big problem. It just looks naff where it's come away from the fence on the right hand side of the garden. The flowering time gives you a clue as to whether it is type a, b or c.
Generally, Summer flowering, prune back in March or as new buds appear.
Early flowering, these ones flower on old wood (last years growth)This doesn't mean they don't flower later too. I have a couple that produce double flowers really early then single flowers durin the summer.
If you want/need to paint the trellis just prune it, it isn't going to die whatever it is. It may take a while to re-establish itself if it is the early flowering type.
(did you consider stain, no pealing in the future)
I haven't had time to prune it at all today anyway. Spent most of the day clearing away a car load of rubble that I dumped in the back garden after knocking down the old brick (false) fireplace. Eventually got that done and swept all three patios and it look hundred times better! I'll start pruning the shrubs and clematis end of February, start of March I think. Should be early enough so that there isn't too much growth in the way, but late enough so that it should be a bit warmer outside.
I haven't looked into painting or staining at all yet. I just know it needs going. I'll look at staining, yes. I think the fence panels along the right hand side of the garden lift out as they're supported by concrete posts. That should make painting them a LOT easier!
danyeates said:
Thanks for your help, but your link doesn't work. From wha tI have read it shouldn't be cut until end of February or early March so I'll leave it for the time being. There's so many plants and shrubs in our garden. It looks great in the first couple of photos, in 2008, but it didn't look very good last summer. There's so much to know and so much to look after, we don't really have the time and it's only a small garden!
Sorry about the link. I normally preview and check before posting. Try this onedanyeates said:
I think it's this one actually which falls into group 2
Jan Pawel II or Pope John Paul II
Kind of answered my own question there, I'm still not 100% how to prune but I'm going to give it a go...
I'm not sure you have the right identity with your picture there. It looks very much from your original photos like a Clematis montana spp. judging by the foliage, habit and woody growth. Normally these are not pruned, however if they outgrow their allotted space, they can be cut back as hard as you want without fear. I would sacrifice this spring's flowers and prune now, whilst there is no foliage. That will allow you to paint/stain the support and it will grow back rapidly over summer and flower next year.Jan Pawel II or Pope John Paul II
Kind of answered my own question there, I'm still not 100% how to prune but I'm going to give it a go...
Edited by 58warren on Saturday 30th January 23:05
Just to clear up any confusion Clematis are generally divided into three groups for pruning.
1 - Any that FLOWER between December and late May including montana's which I also think you have are pruned immediately after flowering (don't leave it later than early June). This gives them the chance to grow for the rest of the Summer and produce wood which will 'ripen' over Winter to flower the following Spring.
2 - Mid Summer varieties that FLOWER in June and July. Generally large flowered hybrids like Nelly Moser, these need very little pruning. In April look at the plants when the new buds emerge and prune back all dead growth back to a nice pair of buds.
3 - late FLOWERING varieties -generally from July until the Autumn. These flower on new wood produced during the year and so it follows that they need pruning in Feb/March. They will then grow and flower later on. The purpose for this pruning is to stop the flowers from emerging ever further away from the base as the plant grows from year to year.
Hope that clears that up and remember two important points
1 Clematis do not like being hard pruned, ie into really old wood just like Lavender, so regular pruning from when the plants are young is beneficial.
2 Never prune in frosty weather, and that applies to all plants, it damages the cells near the cut leading to die back and disease.
My advice Dan would be to remove the Clematis completely as wood treatments and plants don't mix and you will also need to check the structure thoroughly. Replant in April with something different - perhaps Wisteria, Rose Albertine, Clematis Jackmanii or Lonicera. A mixture of the above will give longer flowering time and some variation of colour to your garden. Mark
1 - Any that FLOWER between December and late May including montana's which I also think you have are pruned immediately after flowering (don't leave it later than early June). This gives them the chance to grow for the rest of the Summer and produce wood which will 'ripen' over Winter to flower the following Spring.
2 - Mid Summer varieties that FLOWER in June and July. Generally large flowered hybrids like Nelly Moser, these need very little pruning. In April look at the plants when the new buds emerge and prune back all dead growth back to a nice pair of buds.
3 - late FLOWERING varieties -generally from July until the Autumn. These flower on new wood produced during the year and so it follows that they need pruning in Feb/March. They will then grow and flower later on. The purpose for this pruning is to stop the flowers from emerging ever further away from the base as the plant grows from year to year.
Hope that clears that up and remember two important points
1 Clematis do not like being hard pruned, ie into really old wood just like Lavender, so regular pruning from when the plants are young is beneficial.
2 Never prune in frosty weather, and that applies to all plants, it damages the cells near the cut leading to die back and disease.
My advice Dan would be to remove the Clematis completely as wood treatments and plants don't mix and you will also need to check the structure thoroughly. Replant in April with something different - perhaps Wisteria, Rose Albertine, Clematis Jackmanii or Lonicera. A mixture of the above will give longer flowering time and some variation of colour to your garden. Mark
racing green said:
Just to clear up any confusion Clematis are generally divided into three groups for pruning.
1 - Any that FLOWER between December and late May including montana's which I also think you have are pruned immediately after flowering (don't leave it later than early June). This gives them the chance to grow for the rest of the Summer and produce wood which will 'ripen' over Winter to flower the following Spring.
2 - Mid Summer varieties that FLOWER in June and July. Generally large flowered hybrids like Nelly Moser, these need very little pruning. In April look at the plants when the new buds emerge and prune back all dead growth back to a nice pair of buds.
3 - late FLOWERING varieties -generally from July until the Autumn. These flower on new wood produced during the year and so it follows that they need pruning in Feb/March. They will then grow and flower later on. The purpose for this pruning is to stop the flowers from emerging ever further away from the base as the plant grows from year to year.
Hope that clears that up and remember two important points
1 Clematis do not like being hard pruned, ie into really old wood just like Lavender, so regular pruning from when the plants are young is beneficial.
2 Never prune in frosty weather, and that applies to all plants, it damages the cells near the cut leading to die back and disease.
My advice Dan would be to remove the Clematis completely as wood treatments and plants don't mix and you will also need to check the structure thoroughly. Replant in April with something different - perhaps Wisteria, Rose Albertine, Clematis Jackmanii or Lonicera. A mixture of the above will give longer flowering time and some variation of colour to your garden. Mark
Hi,1 - Any that FLOWER between December and late May including montana's which I also think you have are pruned immediately after flowering (don't leave it later than early June). This gives them the chance to grow for the rest of the Summer and produce wood which will 'ripen' over Winter to flower the following Spring.
2 - Mid Summer varieties that FLOWER in June and July. Generally large flowered hybrids like Nelly Moser, these need very little pruning. In April look at the plants when the new buds emerge and prune back all dead growth back to a nice pair of buds.
3 - late FLOWERING varieties -generally from July until the Autumn. These flower on new wood produced during the year and so it follows that they need pruning in Feb/March. They will then grow and flower later on. The purpose for this pruning is to stop the flowers from emerging ever further away from the base as the plant grows from year to year.
Hope that clears that up and remember two important points
1 Clematis do not like being hard pruned, ie into really old wood just like Lavender, so regular pruning from when the plants are young is beneficial.
2 Never prune in frosty weather, and that applies to all plants, it damages the cells near the cut leading to die back and disease.
My advice Dan would be to remove the Clematis completely as wood treatments and plants don't mix and you will also need to check the structure thoroughly. Replant in April with something different - perhaps Wisteria, Rose Albertine, Clematis Jackmanii or Lonicera. A mixture of the above will give longer flowering time and some variation of colour to your garden. Mark
Thanks for all your replies. The house belongs to my girlfriends parents, we have been renting it from them for the past couple of years so I'm not sure if I could start knocking things down or digging things up really.
I do like the clematis, when it's in flower it does look very nice, it's just grown too big. I like the way it covers the shed because the cats used to sit on it, then jump into our garden to do their business. I let it grow and cover the shed roof and I haven't seen a cat on the shed or in the garden since so that's great!
However, I don't like how it's become too thick and bulky on the fence. It falls over the fence into next door and they push it back into my garden. Then it just hangs there! I think what I will do is cut it right back then and try to reduce most of it's bulk.
Dan
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