| What do I do to prepare my 4 foot flowering clematis vine for the winter and when is the earliest that I can do it? Thank you very much! Sharie |
| There are many kinds of clematis so it's difficult to make specific recommendations, but in general, you'll want to leave the plant alone until spring. In the late fall, after a frew frosts or freezes, mulch around the plant so it is three to five inches deep. Do not allow it to touch the stems of the plant. That is all you would need to do for winter preparation. Clematis are very cold hardy plants. Most clematis do better in the long run if trimmed back to about a foot tall in early spring their first year. This helps them develop a sturdier framework of stems. After that, annual pruning depends on which variety you are growing. The Jackmanii blooms on new growth so is usually cut back to about two feet in early spring when the buds are swelling. Remove all winter damage and cut just above a swelling bud. Niobe, Will Goodwin, and Piilu bloom on the older growth so are pruned very lightly in early spring, cutting just above a swelling bud and removing any winter damage, usually only removing about 6 inches or so. Clematis normally grow very slowly their first year or two and begin to bloom better the third year once they have become well rooted and established. Enjoy! |
