Clematis Pruning: Montana (Group 1)

Montana clematis and it's cultivars are the most vigorous growing clematis. they are generally deciduous and flower in late spring. The plants will grow quickly covering large fences, walls or grow up trees quickly.Generally, when the plants are mature, they only need pruning when overgrown.

These plants flower early in the year on the previous seasons growth.

When do they need pruning?

If necessary, they should be pruned immediately after they flower.

How should they to be training?

Ideally, the plants should be given a strong trellis or wires to grow up.

How should I prune them?

By pinching out the growing tips of the plant. Be careful though as the new growth is brittle so you need to be careful when tieing the plants in place. The pruning of plants which are mature should be kept to a miniumum. Any growth damaged by cold spells in winter can be removed, but take care to do it after the risk of frost has passed.  And shoots which are far too long can be taken back to a healthy looking bud. If the plant is mature, keep pruning to a minimum. That said, if the plant is heavily congested, it can be thinned out by firstly cutting out any damaged or weak growth to healthy buds to the base, or to the base after flowering and secondly thin the stems where there the stems are dense or excessive cutting back to an individual stem or to the point where they appear from the main stem. If you have done this method, it is advisable not to prune again for 3 years.

Which plants fall into this pruning group?

Clematis montana
Clematis Alpina
Clematis x vedrariensis
Clematis aristata
Clematis armandii
Clematis marata
Clematis paniculata
Clematis petriei