How to prune clematis in winter

1. Don’t prune early flowers

For some clematis that bloom early, it is not advisable to prune them in winter. Because after pruning, nutrients will be used to grow new branches, affecting the opening of flowers. However, some dead branches and weak branches should be pruned off as soon as possible to prevent them from consuming nutrients. Early-flowering plants are usually pruned in autumn, and the remaining flowers should be cut off after flowering, which is beneficial to their growth.

2. Light pruning of large flowers

Large-flowered clematis need light pruning in winter. They usually bloom earlier, but old branches are more likely to bloom if they are properly pruned. Don't change the overall shape, but cut short the branches that are too long. Generally, count from the top downwards, keep the first strong bud, and then cut it off 3-4 cm from the upper end.

3. Late-flowering heavy pruning

Late-flowering clematis bloom later, usually in summer or autumn. They have plenty of time to grow before they bloom. To prevent it from becoming too lush, you need to cut back most of the branches and let it grow again. It is enough to keep 3-7 nodes on each branch, and cut off all the excess ones. In addition, you should also thin out the dense areas.