Group 2 Clematis are those that bloom in early summer. Filters. Copyright of pyracantha.co.uk 2020. Group 3 clematis, on the other hand, bloom on new wood. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Clematis montana ‘Rubens’ Group 1 Early- Flowering Clematis. Moderate/Easy – Don’t prune too hard as this can mean fewer flowers. Generally, these cultivars are only pruned to shape. Pruning your Clematis. The best time of the year to prune them is in the early spring before new growth begins. Clematis varieties are classified into three groups according to blooming time and characteristics: Group 1 (spring bloomers), Group 2 (repeat bloomers), and Group 3 (summer or fall bloomers). There are certain varieties that might flower a second time at the end of Summer and the second round grows on that new growth from the current season. Flowering Time (February-May) When to prune How to prune. Simply remove damaged or weak stems to make way for fresh growth. For Hard Prune (Group 3) a hard pruned is carried out every February / March anyway. If left unpruned they will continue to bloom from where they left off the previous year. Prune these more severely in early spring (12 inches from the ground.) Spring Pruning Clematis for longer flowering. Make sure you have left at least 2 sets of good strong buds on each stem. Pruning should take place at some point in February (late Winter – early Spring). Clematis is the scientific name and the most common name for this group of plants, but some of the old and popular species are also called traveler’s joy, virgin’s bower, and old man’s beard. Generally, these cultivars are only pruned to shape. Prune as group 3. If the winter has been very cold, growth will be delayed in which case you can prune in early/mid March instead as it is easier to see what you are doing. When to prune a clematis? This Clematis group are pruned at a different time. A Group One clematis needs little or no pruning – just give it a tidy after flowering. Follow each stem up until you find a healthy, plump bud and snip the vine just above the bud. Popular varieties in this group include ‘Nelly Moser’ and General Skkorski’. To prune group 3, cut the vines back to within 8 inches of the ground in early spring before new growth starts. If cut back too hard, you’ll lose a year of flowers. A species clematis that needs plenty of room. Group 3. This Clematis belongs to the second group of Clematis - a group including Clematis which flower in early summer on short shoots developing from the last year's growth. If it flowers before June, don’t prune. 2 cultivars. Alternatively, if you don’t want to prune on a regular basis you can leave your plants unproved and then every three or four years at the end of winter hard prune it back to approximately 30-90 centimetres. Avoid removing woody stems, if possible. Mid- to late spring, but not necessarily every year. Clematis experts classify into three pruning groups. I understand there are three different pruning techniques depending upon the cultivars, but I don't know what I have. This too can be left unpruned, though deadheading immediately after flowering back to a bud below the spent flower may encourage further blooms. These can be pruned hard because their growing season is after they flower. The Spring Hill Nurseries ® EZ Pruning Guide. If you’re not sure which group your clematis belongs to, let it flower, take note of when it blooms and what kind of flower it produces, and prune accordingly. Clematis recta - a herbaceous perennial. When To Prune Group 3 Clematis If the winter has been very cold, growth will be delayed in which case you can prune in early/mid March instead as it is easier to see what you are doing. Tie in the stems to their supports and mulch. The best time of the year to prune them is in the early spring before new growth begins. Also, remove any dead or weak stems at this time. Group 2 Onwards and upwards. Mid/Early Summer Flowering Clematis (Group 2). Here is the video and about halfway through I share another way (easier) to prune a group 2 clematis and at the end it compares the two clematis, one pruned like I did in this post and the other is the alternate method that is even easier. Group 2, repeat bloomers: This group grows on old and new wood and is divided into two subgroups. This will help to encourage a beautiful second flush later in the season. When to prune group two clematis. When to prune a clematis? As a rule of thumb, if it flowers before June, don’t prune. This is the time to prune Clematis in Groups 2 & 3. Grab the clippers when buds start to swell. All the Clematis varieties below fall into Prune Group 3. These clematis vines flower on both old and new stems and, as a result, stage two flower shows each year if vines are healthy. Then trim other stems to just above the strongest and highest pair of buds. Hopefully this will give you a better idea about when you should prune you Clematis. Group 2 – Flowers on both old and new wood. Type of Pruning. Annual pruning is essential. If you know what variety or cultivar your clematis is then you can prune according to whether it is Group 1, 2 or 3, see below. Stems can be retied and trained. Gardening and DIY tips, advice & product reviews. Group 3: Prune in late winter. Postpone pruning if the weather is frosty. Clematis fit into three pruning categories: early flowering, late flowering and large flowering. Your email address will not be published. If it flowers before July treat as Group 1 or 2 otherwise as Group 3. Leave at least one pair of strong looking buds on each stem. After the first year simply follow the pruning method for established clematis below. Group 3 Clematis have the following characteristics: This makes them somewhat of a challenge to prune. Members of this group, like my favorite Bees Jubilee pictured up top, bloom on old and new wood. With this in mind, this type of clematis should be pruned late winter after flowering or early spring just as new growth begins. It includes some of the best known varieties of Clematis. When to prune clematis Pruning Group 1: Prune mid- to late spring, after flowering and once the risk of frost has passed Pruning Group 2: Prune in February and after the first flush of flowers in early summer Pruning Group 3: Prune in February Most questions about this group of showy large-flowered May/June clematis involve pruning (or a historic lack of it) and hazy identity due to lost labels.