I don't know whether I should blame this on the drought or on over-judicious pruning. I usually don't get around to pruning every year, but this year I managed to prune every one of my clematises. The results were not as impressive as I had hoped. Some didn't bloom at all, and even the ones that did bloom did not put on their usual impressive show.

Same here, Zuzu and we're not in a drought. I pruned hard and wish now that I hadn't. Some that I only got around to pruning because the old stems really annoyed me, did bloom in July. Many others almost skipped this year.

Well, that settles it. This year I'll go back to lazy mode and not bother pruning.

So will I.

I have many youngins and I long for the day that the old stems really annoy me and I ponder the decision to prune or not to prune...
and a few self pruning, like this one--I thought it was dead and then it came back to life. It looks dead again, right now. I hope it comes back to life again next year...


...and only one so far that I must prune-- jouiniana praecox. I chopped it to nubs this spring and it has grown about 25ft in all directions this year. I need to move it. It is blooming its fool head off though.

Not many put on a splendid show this year. More than disappointing.

The good news of the day is that Florida Sieboldii, which Zuzu grows so well, is not dead. It now has two green leaves. Hope springs eternal.

I am having the opposite problem. My clematis have been blooming non stop since this spring. My Elsa Spath and Allanah are putting on a show right now.

I have a few that I prune each year like Princess Diana, Margaret Hunt and Odoriba and they consistently grow back well. Hey, but if lazy works, that is the best!

remember... if it blooms before june... don't prune! ha