HomeCalendarWhat to Plant NowFrost & Heat PlannerWhen to PruneBlog
Resources
ResourcesSeasonal Tips
Watch Sprouty
About

Vines · pruning calendar

When to prune clematis

It depends on when it blooms. Late-summer bloomers (like Jackmanii) flower on new growth: cut them back hard in late winter. Spring bloomers flower on old vines: just remove dead wood, and do any shaping right after flowering.

Should I prune my clematis this month?

Your ZIP picks your climate row in the chart below. Use a USDA zone instead

Blooms mid to late summer (Jackmanii, viticella, sweet autumn)

How to tell: One flush of flowers between early summer and fall, on this year’s new vines.

Clematis, Blooms mid to late summer (Jackmanii, viticella, sweet autumn): pruning by month and USDA zone band
ClimateJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Coldzones 3–5January: WaitFebruary: WaitMarch: Prune nowApril: Prune nowMay: Don’t prune nowJune: Don’t prune nowJuly: Don’t prune nowAugust: Don’t prune nowSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: WaitNovember: WaitDecember: Wait
Temperatezones 6–8January: WaitFebruary: Prune nowMarch: Prune nowApril: WaitMay: Don’t prune nowJune: Don’t prune nowJuly: Don’t prune nowAugust: Don’t prune nowSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: WaitNovember: WaitDecember: Wait
Warmzones 9–11January: Prune nowFebruary: Prune nowMarch: WaitApril: Don’t prune nowMay: Don’t prune nowJune: Don’t prune nowJuly: Don’t prune nowAugust: Don’t prune nowSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: WaitNovember: WaitDecember: Wait
  • Prune now
  • Wait
  • Don’t prune now
  • Wait Wait until late winter. The old vines give some winter structure.
  • Prune now It blooms on new growth. Cut it back hard now, before growth starts.
  • Don’t prune now This year’s flowers are forming on the new vines. Cutting now removes them.

How to cut: Cut every stem back to 6–12 inches above the ground, just above a pair of healthy buds.

Blooms in spring only (alpina, macropetala, montana)

How to tell: Flowers in spring on last year’s vines, then no more.

Clematis, Blooms in spring only (alpina, macropetala, montana): pruning by month and USDA zone band
ClimateJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Coldzones 3–5January: Don’t prune nowFebruary: Don’t prune nowMarch: Don’t prune nowApril: WaitMay: WaitJune: Prune nowJuly: Don’t prune nowAugust: Don’t prune nowSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: Don’t prune nowNovember: Don’t prune nowDecember: Don’t prune now
Temperatezones 6–8January: Don’t prune nowFebruary: Don’t prune nowMarch: WaitApril: WaitMay: Prune nowJune: Prune nowJuly: Don’t prune nowAugust: Don’t prune nowSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: Don’t prune nowNovember: Don’t prune nowDecember: Don’t prune now
Warmzones 9–11January: Don’t prune nowFebruary: Don’t prune nowMarch: WaitApril: Prune nowMay: Prune nowJune: Don’t prune nowJuly: Don’t prune nowAugust: Don’t prune nowSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: Don’t prune nowNovember: Don’t prune nowDecember: Don’t prune now
  • Prune now
  • Wait
  • Don’t prune now
  • Don’t prune now It flowers on last year’s vines. Cutting now removes next spring’s flowers.
  • Wait Wait for leaves to appear, then remove dead wood only.
  • Prune now Flowering just ended. Shape it now, if needed, before next year’s flowering vines grow.

How to cut: Remove dead and weak stems. Only cut back further if it has outgrown its space.

Big flowers, early summer and again later (Nelly Moser, The President)

How to tell: A big flush of large flowers in late spring or early summer, then a smaller one in late summer.

Clematis, Big flowers, early summer and again later (Nelly Moser, The President): pruning by month and USDA zone band
ClimateJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Coldzones 3–5January: Don’t prune nowFebruary: Don’t prune nowMarch: WaitApril: Prune nowMay: WaitJune: WaitJuly: Prune nowAugust: WaitSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: Don’t prune nowNovember: Don’t prune nowDecember: Don’t prune now
Temperatezones 6–8January: Don’t prune nowFebruary: WaitMarch: Prune nowApril: WaitMay: WaitJune: Prune nowJuly: WaitAugust: WaitSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: Don’t prune nowNovember: Don’t prune nowDecember: Don’t prune now
Warmzones 9–11January: WaitFebruary: Prune nowMarch: WaitApril: WaitMay: WaitJune: Prune nowJuly: WaitAugust: WaitSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: Don’t prune nowNovember: Don’t prune nowDecember: Don’t prune now
  • Prune now
  • Wait
  • Don’t prune now
  • Don’t prune now Heavy cuts now remove the old vines that carry next year’s first, biggest flush.
  • Wait Leave it be. Light cleanup only.
  • Prune now Leaves are appearing. Remove dead wood and weak stems now, and go easy.
  • Prune now The first flush is over. Trim lightly to encourage the second flush.

How to cut: Remove dead and weak stems back to a pair of healthy buds. Avoid hard cuts: the early flowers come from old vines.

I’m not sure

How to tell: Watch when it blooms. Only in spring = spring bloomer. A big early-summer flush and a smaller late one = big-flowered repeat bloomer. Only mid to late summer = late bloomer.

Clematis, I’m not sure: pruning by month and USDA zone band
ClimateJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Coldzones 3–5January: Don’t prune nowFebruary: Don’t prune nowMarch: Don’t prune nowApril: WaitMay: Prune nowJune: Don’t prune nowJuly: Don’t prune nowAugust: Don’t prune nowSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: Don’t prune nowNovember: Don’t prune nowDecember: Don’t prune now
Temperatezones 6–8January: Don’t prune nowFebruary: Don’t prune nowMarch: WaitApril: Prune nowMay: Don’t prune nowJune: Don’t prune nowJuly: Don’t prune nowAugust: Don’t prune nowSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: Don’t prune nowNovember: Don’t prune nowDecember: Don’t prune now
Warmzones 9–11January: Don’t prune nowFebruary: WaitMarch: Prune nowApril: Don’t prune nowMay: Don’t prune nowJune: Don’t prune nowJuly: Don’t prune nowAugust: Don’t prune nowSeptember: Don’t prune nowOctober: Don’t prune nowNovember: Don’t prune nowDecember: Don’t prune now
  • Prune now
  • Wait
  • Don’t prune now
  • Don’t prune now Hold off on shaping until you know the type. Two of the three types bloom on old vines.
  • Wait Wait for leaves to appear so you can see which stems are dead.
  • Prune now Leaves are appearing. Remove only stems that are clearly dead. That’s safe for every type.

How to cut: Cut out only dead stems. Note when it blooms this year, then use that type’s timing.

Sources

Months are grouped into broad USDA zone bands, so local weather, elevation and the plant itself still have the final say.

Free · no account · printable

More free Sprouty tools