I want to know how to prune a clematis. The clematis is called "Clematis Henryi" that has large white flower and is blooming now in my garden (zone-6, northern New Jersey). According to where I bought it, this clematis is in group-2 that blooms in early summer (from last year old growth) and fall (from this year new growth). Their on-line instruction on pruning group-2 clematis tells me exactly "where" to prune -- but it doesn't say "when".
I have searched this newsgroup, and I find this suggestion:
"Don't prune it except for deadwood, and do this in late winter or early spring."
In other words, I should not prune out the living tissue. But I want to prune it. The reason is that this clematis seems to grow up all the way on the top of the trellis, and leave the lower 2/3 of the trellis empty. I would like to encourage it to cover as much empty space in the trellis as possible. If I prune it very hard to 1.5-ft near the ground in late winter, I am hoping I may achieve this effect. But of course I don't want to kill it or forgo any bloom in the process.
My questions are:
- Can I prune it?
- Will I achieve the effect of covering the trellis if I prune it hard?
- Does clematis growing on the top of the trellis have more to do with lack of sun light and hard-pruning may not change its tendency? The trellis is facing west against a wall and only get sun light from noon to dusk.
Thanks in advance for any pruning tip or other suggestions.
Jay Chan