Clematis Care

Clematis are beautiful climbing vines, but if you don't take care of them correctly they can either take over or dwindle into nothing.

Check your plant and see when it blooms. This is very important for care. Start a notebook with a map of your yard and where each plant is to keep it straight.

Right after you plant a new Clematis and for the first year, keep the plant trimmed to no more than 24 inches. This will help develop a great base and excellent framework of branches.

Your Clematis is blooming on last years growth if it blooms before June. These vines need to be trimmed just after they bloom. If you trim in the late summer or fall you will not have as many blooms.

Summer and Fall varieties can be trimmed in the spring. You can be more aggressive with these varieties and prune them down to 10"-12" from the ground.

There is a third kind that blooms with both old and new growth, so these should be trimmed with a light hand.

If you are not sure which kind you have, take a bloom into your local nursery and they can help you with the care.