Ask JOHN NEGUS
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Should I hard prune new clematis?
Q I have just purchased three clematis, a ‘Broughton Star’, a ‘Blue Angel’ with some flowers and a macropetala ‘Wesselton’. They were jumbled up, entwined and very top heavy. Should I prune them when planting or leave them to do their own thing until next year?
Llinos Morgan, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire
A It is best to prune all newly planted clematis as this avoids the development of a straggly single stem and encourages branching lower down.
This pruning is best done in February or March, even if they were planted the autumn before, and whatever the eventual pruning regime will be.
The best method is to cut back all the stems to 6in-1ft (15-30cm) from ground level, cutting just above a bud. It is also beneficial to pinch out developing young shoots once or twice during the season to promote further branching.
It is best to plant large-flowered cultivars that bloom in May to June (this applies to all the cultivars you purchased) with the tops of their root balls 2-3in (5-8cm) below the soil surface. This
