Clematis - leave or cut it back?

The clematis i had last year died back a little,but i noticed its sprung back to life,with leaves on most of the stem in places all the way up, so do i leave it to carry on,or cut it back a few inches?
I read somewhere you're suppose to cut them back...

 

You can do either. The difference is, they will flower a bit earlier if you leave them. If you leave them year after year they will get very tangled so you will probably want to tidy them up sooner or later.
If it was planted last year you're advised to cut it back to about a foot to make it develop a stout stem low down. But it probably wouldn't be a disaster if you didn't.
NB If it's a spring flowering C montana, alpina or macropetala don't cut them now or you'll cut off all the flower buds for this year. So if you're not sure, leave it until you can find out - when it flowers.

 

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/clematis_17.asp
This site shows the 3 types of Clematis and pruning instructions . As Madahhlia said in the first year prune down to a good pair of buds. Give it a bone feed or similar then stand back and watch it grow . Feed with tomato food every couple of weeks until the flower buds form.

 

Thanks HarryS. was just thinking, I know there are types you prune and others you don't , or very little. It is not a general for all.

 

on the first year i cut mine down to just 6 inch above the ground that was about 4 years ago
now it is trained along a trellis all the side shoot from last year growth is cut back to about 2-3 inch of main steam after die back and is doing well and i get good growth each year
good luck with yours

 

Good tip about the feeding, always my weak point. It's always a bit hit or miss but even I should be able to remember to chuck a handful of bonemeal down.
Can vegetarian gardeners use bonemeal?

 

Hi Redstar , if you would like to overload with clematis info' try this Polish site
http://www.clematis.com.pl/wms/wmsg.php/
One thing when you prune clematis by type I , II or III , they are not like the lovely ink drawing pruning diagrams . More like some crazy 3D string maze Where you can't find what belongs to what

Hi Madahhlia, this is the feeding regime I use for Clematis , below, gleaned from some site. I feed mine with BFB in February and with Sulphate of Potash in April , and that's it nice and simple


During mid spring (April) a single handful of Sulphate of Potash can be applied (as with bonemeal),
OR from late spring (May) use liquid tomato feed (once a fortnight until early autumn (September). Tomato feed is high in potash and that, or Sulphate of Potash will improve the colour, size and quantity of your clematis blooms. Use either one, or the other, NOT both.

 

Excellent site Harry, thank you