When to Prune Clematis for Summer Blooms

Plant Maintenance for Summer Flowering Vines

Clematis is a summer flowering vine with twining stems. Gardeners make pruning part of a good maintenance schedule to encourage healthy plants and many blooms.

Clematis is a perennial vine that flowers in summer, hardy in zones 4 - 9. It likes a full sun location; the maxim warm tops and cool bottoms is helpful to remember when siting this plant. Pruning should be part of the maintenance schedule to maintain a healthy plant.

There are three pruning schedules that are followed by gardeners with clematis. Choosing which one is determined by when the plant develops its buds and when it flowers. When planting new clematis, find the information on the plant tag concerning when to prune.

Clematis Pruning Reference

Pruning clematis is done primarily for removing dead stems and to keep the plant to a particular size. Drastic pruning will lessen flowering the next season and is not usually recommended. Choose one type of instructions for the type of clematis pruning:

• Pruning number one is followed for clematis flowering on old wood. Old wood means stems that have grown in previous growing seasons; the stems appear less pliable and have a wood-like texture. Pruning on these types of clematis means it will be done directly after all the flowers have finished.

• Pruning number two is for early spring flowering clematis. The first flowering is still on old wood, meaning the stems grown last season. Gardeners will look for swelled leaf buds in late winter or early spring. Remove all the dead plant material by cutting above the developing buds.

• Pruning number three is for new growth clematis. This clematis blooms later in the season on new wood, which is on stems grown in the current season. Pruning is done in February and March just as leaf buds are seen on the lower sections of the plant. Remove all dead material above the buds.

Clematis is an easy to grow perennial vine that has a variety of cultivars to choose. However, pruning yearly should be part of the maintenance schedule to keep the plant healthy and blooming well.