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How should I prune my clematis?
Q I have bought two clematis, ‘Polish Spirit’ and ‘Blue Angel’. How should I prune them, and when should I do it?
John Dixon (via email)
A It is always a joy to have clematis in the garden, as there are so many varieties. Some compact varieties can be happily grown in containers, and if you choose carefully you can have flowers all year.
Most clematis like a sunny or partly shaded spot, but there are plants that will suit every aspect.
Clematis ‘Blue Angel’ and ‘Polish Spirit’ are large-flowered hybrids.
Pruning is easy, as all you do is shorten the previous year’s growth in late February or early March to just above a pair of buds, 9in (23cm) or so from the ground.
When planting, set them 6-8in (15-20cm) deeper than they are in their pots, to help them develop several stems.
Then, if a shoot of either variety succumbs to wilt disease, to which large-flowered kinds are prone and which causes stems to collapse within hours, you will be less aware of the problem than if the plant was single stemmed.
Pleasingly, if you shorten the diseased shoot to near ground level it will grow again within six weeks.
