Clematis: Starting new clem, 1 by ClematisGuru

ClematisGuru wrote:
don't know how old your CDB is, but the first few years with clems are really boring. i don't know how i made it thru the first years, keeping motivated with reading, buying more and the mary toomey lectures.
if i added up my failures with clems as i learned a bit, well, then i would know i was looney. just keep on and always go for a heathy plant vs a few blooms. i am relentless on a spindly, browned off plant no mater what time of year. fix the plant and eventually the years and health will create more joy and blooms and fullness than you are even envisioning.
so by all means referencing your initial question, cut her back and build that soil up.
cdb is so pretty well worth any struggle.
this is a CDB that has been in 3 years. pic from 08.