Article: Clematis particular about pruning.(Home & Garden)(Ask a master gardener)

Q. We moved into a new home and there was a beautiful vine with purple flowers called clematis. There is a considerable amount of growth but it seems mostly dead. I am unsure as to when I should prune this. Should I just leave it alone?

A. We get this same question from people who plant their own clematis. This is a good reason to save the plant tags you receive. Sooner or later you will want to prune your clematis to eliminate tangles, increase flowering and get rid of unproductive wood. Pruning also helps to keep disease from spreading.

After a few years clematis can get very unsightly. There is no easy answer to your question about when to prune ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!