Clematis are pruned based on where on the plant the flowers are formed. There are three basic groups which are explained by clicking the links to the left. To cut a long story short,

1. Group One are spring flowering,
2. Group Two, spring, summer and autumn flowering
3. Group Three are late spring and autumn flowering.

Build a framework

Which ever group your clematis fall into, they will need to be pruned when young to help develop the strong framework required to produce the masses of flowers. Framework developing pruning is basically cutting the plant back quite hard once the stems are showing strong buds or are semi ripe. Plants can be left to flower, afterall that is what you have them for, but straight after flowering, you should give them a cut. Don't forget to feed your clematis after each cut with a fertilizer suitable for roses. Clematis love to be fed.

Pruning clematis is not rocket science! Clematis that are butchered back (sorry to all you butchers out there) on a regular basis after each flowering and fertilized respond dramatically and flower prolifically. Think of clematis like roses and you are half way there. NOTE!! You do not need to cut back any clematis in Group One.

 The pictures to the left are how we prune our clematis in a pot. We use this exact method for the late spring and summer prune. They are cut this hard because we want fresh green foliage from top the bottom. Clematis growing with other plants, or clematis growing up a tree do not need to be pruned as hard because the other plants will hide any bare stems.

Once the framework is established, The pruning instructions refer to clematis that are already established.