Annual pruning can keep clematis vines blooming

Unpruned, a clematis vine grows increasingly large over the years, bearing flowers higher and higher until the only thing staring you in the face is a tangle of bare, woody stems. Avoid this by pruning -- every year.

The pruning method depends on the flowering habit of the particular plant. Fortunately, all clematis can be lumped into one of three pruning groups. If you are not sure to which group a plant belongs, let it grow freely for a year or two and watch how it flowers.

Group 1: Clematis in this group flower late in the season, toward the ends of new shoots. Merely lop all shoots back to within a foot of the ground just before growth begins for the season.

Group 2: These vines flower early in the season, on last year's stems. Just cut the whole plant nearly to the ground -- in this case, though, prune right after the blossoms fade. The more vigorous the plant, the more severe pruning is needed. Be a little careful because very old stems don't always resprout following severe cutting.

Group 3: These vines flower more or less throughout the season, first on last year's stems and then later on new shoots. For pruning, lightly thin out and disentangle stems before growth begins, then go over the plants again after the early flowers fade.