Amateur Gardening – 13 July 2019

13 JULY 2019AMATEUR GARDENING 7

In the pink: After renovating our pink Clematis montana

a few years ago, it has now returned to its former glory with

an annual profusion of blooms.

Hard-pruning a clematis

O

UR well-established white
Clematis montana used
to flower abundantly in
early summer, but we’ve
seen a drop in its performance
over the past two years.
It was looking straggly and
unkempt, its centre just a
tangle of bare stems with a
pitiful number of blooms.
It was time for drastic
action and complete
renovation, cutting the plant
right back to its base. Luckily,
Clematis montana is a variety that
responds well to hard pruning straight
after flowering, shooting forth new,
vigorous growth and quickly returning
to its flowering grandeur.

There are no hard-and-fast rules

about how to cut back clematis. I find

the easiest way is to shear off the fresh

green growth and work inwards.

The trickiest part can be

cutting entwined stems free

from their trellis or support.

Our clematis was growing

through old plastic netting,

which was being pulled

off the wall by the weight of

the plant. It was easy to snip

through the mesh and remove it

altogether, to be replaced by a more

lasting and attractive wooden trellis.

The tools you will need for this job

include secateurs, shears and loppers,

sturdy gloves and a stable platform or

ladder to help you reach the top growth.

Clematis montana are easy to rejuvenate, says Ruth

Hard pruning seems drastic but be brave,

and your plant will thank you with fl owers

1

Start by shearing away the

external soft green growth.

Shears are also useful to cut

through the thinnest inner stems.

2

Secateurs and loppers make

easy work of cutting through

thicker, older stems.

3

You should end up with a

spray of stems 1-2ft (30-60cm)

tall. Cut away thin, spindly growth,

leaving the robust stems in place.

4

Finally, feed the plant with a

granular fertiliser, fork it in and

water well. Don’t hard-prune the

plant again for at least three years.

Pruning

a clematis

Start on the outside and work in

Step

by step

Hard-pruning a clematis

Our unproductive

Clematis montana

Shears are ideal for

removing soft growth

early summer, but we’ve
seen a drop in its performance

green growth and work inwards.

The trickiest part can be

cutting entwined stems free

from their trellis or support.

Our clematis was growing

through old plastic netting,

which was being pulled

off the wall by the weight of

the plant. It was easy to snip

through the mesh and remove it

altogether, to be replaced by a more

Always stand on a

stable platform

Clematis offcuts are ideal for adding

to the compost heap because they are

a mix of green and brown materials.

Keep your compost healthy in summer

However, if the plant was very large,

too much of it may overwhelm the

compost heap and slow it down, so

only add some and take the rest to

your local gardening recycling centre.

Keep your compost working in

summer by adding a balance of green

and brown garden materials (grass

clippings, deadheads, weeds and

any chopped-up prunings).

Turn it regularly and water it in very

dry weather.

Add your clematis

remnants to the

compost heap