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Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: Sparkly on April 02, 2012, 19:08:52
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Hi everyone! I have a clemantis. It is a dark purple colour with many flowers starting around July-ish. Can I prune this hard back as it is getting pretty wild? I haven't pruned it at all for 3 years. It has new growth sprouting at the base, but also at points along the established stems.
Any help appreciated.
Also any idea on variety?
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When Monty was planting recently he said 'if it flowers before June don't prune'. I would as you have new shoots coming from below. Have a look at clematisontheweb you might find yours there.
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If you need to do good 'clean up'..cut all the growth down to level of the lowerst growth..sounds like yours is group 3 that do prefer almost total chop.
There is hundreds of varieties of clematis so to tell the variety by description only is almost impossible. Check varieties in viticella family.
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Thanks all! It does look like a viticella type. I was sure I had a photo of it in flower, but can't find it. Am I ok to hard prune this back then? Just leave a few shoots coming out?
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I have Polish Spirit & it didn't get pruned last year so I took it back to 3 buds from the ground. It grows through a rhododendrom & a cotoneaster, looks lovely in full bloom.
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Any clematis that is throwing up new shoots from the base is likely to be a group 3 for pruning which means, yes, you can cut back all the top growth down to those new shoots.
Give it a good feed of something like pelleted chicken manure and a good drink as clematis are hungry and thirsty plants. It will repay you with masses of flowers next summer.
Have a look at clematis viticella Etoile Violette. It may be what you have.
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Thanks ;D