Greetings all, I have a couple of Clematis that are about 15-20 years old that have taken a beating over the years (being crushed under oak trees and "inadvertent" round-up sprayings) yet they still survive and thrive! Our neighbor wants to put up a new fence that will further put these two girls at risk; I was wondering about the possibility of transplanting them to a safer location, I'm sure I could take cuttings to ensure their survival, but perhaps I'm being clouded by emotions of wanting to get these two old friends to safety. Is transplanting plants of this age feasible, or is it too late for them at this stage of their lives?

You could transplant them in the dormant season, but not safely out of it. Now's a great time for cuttings (in my zone at least)!

Usually clematises of this age have a pretty wide base with multiple stems shooting out. You can scoop up one side and transplant it and leave second part in its place just in case. It doesn't hurt to take some cuttings and if time allows try layering. Layering is easier for me, just cover a stem with soil and forget about it till fall.