How to Prune Clematis Vine

Q. How to prune clematis vine in North Las Vegas?

Always prune "pretty plants" immediately after they finish flowering. If they flower most season long, then prune them in the winter. This picture is from another reader.

A. To get a “how” it is best to send some pictures. Without pictures I can tell you “when”. Clematis vine should flower late in the spring and then again in the fall if you are lucky. 

There are multiple ways to prune it depending on what you've got. Clematis is basically a flowering woody vine that can be pruned as if it were a shrub. The flowers grow on older wood and, depending on the variety, can flower anytime from spring until fall. If the vine or shrub flowers all season long, then winter is the best time to prune.

Always prune flowering vines and shrubs just after they finish flowering. You are okay pruning now because the winter has interrupted the flowering.

Did you know there is a “native” clematis? It is not as spectacular when it flowers, but it is a native and so it can handle less frequent watering. It is still a clematis!