Clematis in February: monthly care

Clematis 'Jackmanii' belongs to pruning group 3 (also called group C or the late-flowering group), which means it flowers on the current season's growth and benefits from hard pruning each year. Prune in February or March, before new growth begins in earnest. This timing encourages vigorous shoots that will carry flowers from early summer through to late summer. Use clean, sharp secateurs or loppers. Cut all stems back hard to a pair of strong buds roughly 20–30 cm above ground level. Don't be timid—this cultivar responds well to severe pruning and will quickly produce plenty of new growth once the weather warms. If you leave old stems unpruned, the plant becomes a tangled mass of bare, woody growth at the base with flowers appearing only at the top, well out of sight. As you prune, remove any dead, damaged, or weak stems entirely. Disentangle the old growth carefully from its support; clematis stems can be brittle, so work patiently. After pruning, the plant will look like a collection of short stubs, but by late spring it will have produced a framework of fresh shoots. Tie these in loosely as they grow to spread them evenly across the support and maximise flowering coverage. If your clematis has become severely overgrown or neglected, the same hard pruning in late winter will rejuvenate it. You may sacrifice one season's flowers, but the plant will reward you with healthier, more abundant blooms the following year.