I have a 4 year old Sweet Autumn clematis and never cut her back. Do I do it now and how much if I do. She is 4 years old and blooms nice in the fall every year.. this was her size last year and it was perfect but how do i keep her this way??
Do i cut back Sweet Autumn now or no
Leave it alone! You Never HAVE to cut them down. It is recommended to increase blooms at a lower
place on the plant! I would NOT cut this plant unless you find it losing it's ability to put out the flower capacity!!
Julie
"Sweet Autumn" clematis (terniflora) should be hard pruned..It is a pruning group 3
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/clematis/2002095824028038.html
http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=523
Yes it can be but it does not have to be! I prune mine only every other year hard. maybe I am mistaken but I have it covering an arbor and I like to keep it that way!! It does not reach it's full height in one season.
So I do not cut it to the ground every year. Do you think I am making a mistake?
Maybe it is not suited to it's aspect? Or do you find they will grow to full height in one year from a hard prune?
Mine has been in place 8 years. It only gets morning sun until noon.
What do you think?
Julie
Julie..they grow to be quite huge during a season..that is totally up to you hon..you could try one season to see what you think..everyone that I know hard prunes their...does it bloom all over? ..since you don't hard prune?...Jeanne
I prune mine right down to about a foot off the ground. It is a monster. Grows up the side of the house and onto the garage....every single year!! I'm afraid if I didn't cut it down it would cover the house!
Well there you go! It blooms well but I only have one so I have nothing to compare it to. Ok this year and NEXT year I will prune and I will let you know if it blooms the same or no and If it gets as tall!
Science..scheeeesh!!
Thanks,
Julie
jess: Pleasssse do your homework BEFORE planting this very invasive Clematis. Read all about it in PlantFiles.
Pruning group 86, with a shovel. It's a serious problem. And the amazing thing is nobody seems to find the seedlings in their own yard.
Well I might try to cut it to a foot or two this year and see what happens. Last year I trimmed it to keep its shape. It really has not been any major problems yet and the birds do love it!! the problem is the birds have a nest in there now so I will have to be careful cutting it back and see what happens..I have seen only one or two vines reseed and i pull them out right away. I honestly have not had problems with this yet and do keep trimming it back over the summer to keep it smaller i just never cut it to a foot or two from the ground. It smells great in the fall!! if i pune it now would it still bloom in the fall??
I just pruned mine this past weekend...it is one tough cookie...
Rabbits pruned mine to the ground several times when it was young. And yes, it did bloom again each year.