Clematis...

I have been growing a clematis up the fence for nearly ten years now and it looks gorgeous. Living on an estate, I do appreciate that my neighbour is entitled to cut back any growth on their side. (Why you'd want to though... As it looks beautiful in bloom!). Just the other day she decided to literally hack at it, and as a result a lot of growth at one end of my side has completely wilted...therefore I have cleared it...but it looks terrible. My question is, how hardy is clematis and do you think it will recover and 'refill' the gap over time? I am really gutted because I planted it so long ago and have really looked after it... Fingers crossed
The photos show before and (upside down) after...

 

Looks like a montana I think tetra rose , it will grow back

 

It is a clematis Montana I am pretty sure...looks like the pic in the reply above. When I said I cleared it, I meant I took out all the wilted growth, the best I could. Being nearly ten years old, it was really hard to take out just wilted growth and so I simply cut off a big 'chunk' that seemed to contain most of the wilted growth. It was also growing up next door's tree as well so that all came with it. :-( As I say, it's not that I object to my neighbour cutting it, I just don't think she really knew what she was doing and has actually cut through a number of stems which feed right back onto my side. I hope that makes sense...

 

im sure it'll be fine, Montana's are as tough as old boots

 

It will come back next year, I think you would do better to not let it go over your neighbours side of the fence again.

 

My clematis seems pretty bomb proof it should come back nicely next year

 

That's great....thanks very much for the advice...if nothing else, it's opened up a bit of space for the shrub growing underneath.

 

thats the spirit! always look on the bright side

 

Bear in mind that when it comes back next year, your neighbour may cut it back on their side again. Montana can be a bit of a thug so I'd keep it in hand as best you can so as to avoid it taking over your neighbour's shrub (which looks like a Photinia).

 

Could you find a way to tactfully suggest that if she would like it smaller the best time to prune it is right after flowering, sometime in May. That way "she" won't miss out on any flowers, because that would be a great shame, wouldn't it? You could even offer to do it for her (in an attempt to keep control of the situation)!

 

I`m sorry but if a plant I didnt want, was continually coming over my fence, and my neighbour suggested to me "when" to prune it, I would be very offended.

 

Lol my neighbour and I get on fine...I think she was a little tipsy when she hacked at it. She knows I love gardening and does love the clematis. She was moving and just wanted to make her garden 'clear'.