Overwintering a clematis

Question

Hello my fellow gardeners,I have a climbing clemati, (not sure of the name) hopefully I’m able to post my picture of it. I bought it at a local nursery 6 years ago, in early spring. From that year on it has climbed a produced hundreds of beautiful purple flowers. Every fall, I would cut off the old dead growth about a foot away from the ground. Last year it had a hard time starting to grow, but finally did. It does not produce from old wood. So, this year I just took off the dead flowers and left all the dead wood around the trellis. Could someone tell me if this was the right thing to do? Or should I be cutting all the dead off? I live in Boston, Ma, I’m not sure what zone this is. Thanking you in advance! And Happy New Year to all !!

Janet Pizaro · Answer

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/clematis/pruning-clematis-vines.htm

Lcs15146300 · Answer

Hi I live in England and our weather is bad I have 2 clematis a purple and pink .they are well astablished.i have had a new fence put up and I was worried about both the plants as they were climbing all over the fence ,but grew back this year in full bloom .

They are very hardy plants all I did the same as you is take all dead off when flowering stops cut all the pieces , that have had flowers on like giving them a haircut they love being cared for .mine have stopped growing now ready for a sleep if you cut back if it is showing greenery on.the end don't cut back hope this helps .Mave

Kauai Breeze · Answer

Cutting it off to about a foot above the ground is good if it doesn't bloom on old wood. You have been doing fine. Climatis are notoriously slow to grow in the spring so you should be patient. That's just their way. They do appreciate having their roots shaded from the hot sun by other plants. I usually put hostas around mine to cover the ground, yet the climber has no problem getting though them because they too take their time growing in the spring. Climatis enjoy a meal of compost in the spring.

TAMMY SPALSBURY · Answer

Personally I would cut the dead woodsy part off. When you cut off dead flowers or parts of a plant that no longer are growing. This in turn pushes the plant to thrive, the dead parts of the plant are holding Back the growing parts from thriving.

Patricia Rider · Answer

Thank you, Tammy. Not to mention it's an eyesore. Happy New Year !!

TAMMY SPALSBURY · Answer

I must say in the picture it looks absolutely beautiful.

Patricia Rider · Answer

Thank you, Tammy !!

Rory McBean · Answer

I had a clematis in Minnesota that I planted to memorialize my dog that had recently passed. Beautiful white flowers that reminded me of her white fur. We never did anything to the plant; it was part of a perennial garden and we just left the plants to themselves during our harsh winters. But I digress. The clematis did not get any attention except for watering during hot spells, and it did beautiful.

Overwintering a clematis

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Overwintering a clematis

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