Pruning Montana clematis

[cheops]

Hi, I have a montana clematis for several years now growing vigoursly and blooming profusely as it should. However it has 'taken over' a bit and I really need to start again. Can I cut it back till almost the ground level and it will quickly recover and grow vigoursly again? If so should I wait till the spring blossom has come and gone or should I cut it back now whilst it is dormant and leafless. Thanks in advance.

[lyndapet]

i had to chop mine down in june to put up new fence. I. chopped it down to the ground and within a year it had covered the new fence



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[Glutton4...]

I think it's pretty resilient. We had an enormous one where we used to live - the base was more like a trunk, as it was nearly a foot across (showing my age there!), but it was in the way, so it was 'hacked down' to around three feet high before the new dividing fence was put up. It grew, and grew, and grew, and grew, and pulled the (horrible Neighbours') new fence down within about five years.

[chris]

I've chopped mine down to a foot in height - moved it (in December) and the thing regrow and now is taking over a 30' conifer (looks great when in flower).


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[cheops]

ok thanks everyone - just what i wanted to hear - i can chop it down and back it will come - great.

[Glutton4...]

I've chopped mine down to a foot in height - moved it (in December) and the thing regrow and now is taking over a 30' conifer (looks great when in flower).

Looks lovely growing through a conifer hedge, too.

ok thanks everyone - just what i wanted to hear - i can chop it down and back it will come - great.

Don't blame us if you have the only one in the world that dies!

[RaptorUK]

Hi, I have a montana clematis for several years now growing vigoursly and blooming profusely as it should. However it has 'taken over' a bit and I really need to start again. Can I cut it back till almost the ground level and it will quickly recover and grow vigoursly again? If so should I wait till the spring blossom has come and gone or should I cut it back now whilst it is dormant and leafless. Thanks in advance.

There are 3 pruning groups for Clematis . . . Montana is in Group 1.

Clematis pruning: group one / Royal Horticultural Society

[WendyC]

If you want flowers this year, then wait until it has flowered, in May around here. If you are not bothered or just need to get on with it, then prune away and accept you will not get flowers this year but lots of lovely new growth.