I've been struggling with my clematis for years, and it always seems to have issues. The one I have now is particularly strange: the bottom part and the first 60cm of the stem are completely dead and dry, yet the upper part is green, flourishing, and even has one big purple flower! The branches are all tangled up on my trellis, and some are even intertwined with my jasmine. I'm at a loss about how to clean it up, especially since I can't tell which branches belong to which plant. How is it still alive with such a dead base? Where is it getting nutrients from? I really want to tidy it up for better growth, but I'm worried I'll cut the wrong parts and ruin everything!
1 Answer
You're definitely not alone in your clematis struggles! Mine has looked dead at the bottom but has come back strong too. This year has been better for me since the slugs didn't get to it. If it's super tangled, I’d suggest cutting it back quite a bit and starting fresh for next season. It might look messy now, but it could be worth it!
Haha, yeah, clematis can be like a miracle plant! I get why your friend hesitates to cut it since it finally has a flower. Waiting until the end of summer to prune could definitely give it time to recover before the frost hits!