Have I cut my Clematis back too hard?:(

Hi there people. Below is a photo which shows a mature Clematis (Montana) I've pruned back quite a lot. It was completely overgrown, and I thought best to start it off again. Unfortunately, I think I may been a bit too enthusiastic. I've just read on another site that you should NOT cut into the woody trunks, with this type of clematis, anyway.



I have not cut into the main trunk, but cut back the off trunks. Have I screwed up?:eek: I've also been told that they can "bleed" to death. I've touched the off trunk that shoots off the right. It's moist. I'm fearful. I've just given half a bucket of water. Will it do any good?

Help is much appreciated:thumb:

ps. that's not me in the pic btw

 

If you are worried that the cut ends are going to leak sap then seal them with Arborex Wound paint or even candle wax would do. C. montana does not particularly like being very hard pruned, but they usually recover, it just might take a while to get back to flowering. Half a bucket of water is not really enough, minimum would be 4 gallons of water! And I have seen them cut back to ground level and regrow!

 

Erm... isn't that an Ivy?

 

Thanks a lot for the heads up on Arborex Wound Paint, Palustris. When you say 4 gallons of water I presume you mean 4 metric gallons - 18.182 L (32 x 568.2ml)? And would this be all at once, in the summer, at night? At what time and in what conditions exactly?

To Ivory, no thankfully it is not an Ivy. It just happens that there was blackcurrant growing right next to the main trunk of the Clematis.

 

I couldn't find anything on Arborex Wound Paint, just some Irish Tree Surgeon company called Arborex. Did you meant to say Arbrex Seal and Heal? I've also found other similar products called Vitax Medo and Growing Success's Prune and Seal. Have you used these before? Are they any good? I've already read some negative things about wound paints. Can't win, can I? lol!

 

Earthman, just give the clematis a good watering, Day or Night, if your not sure about the heal and seal products, do as palustris said and use a candle, Plants are like us they want to survive, so water it seal it and let it get on with surviving, Dont worry :thumb:

 

I am sorry, I am as blind as a bat, and have been squinting at the picture for a while, so I wanted to make sure. I don't think you can easily kill a well established clematis, only lose a season of blooming.

 

Sorry meant Arbex, slip of the or there. All I ever use is a handful of mud to be honest. 4 gallons to me is 2 watering cans, cos mine hold two, cos it says so on the side. A little water does more harm than a lot.

 

Thanks again Palustris. I ordered Arbrex and I used a couple of coats on the ends of "vines" that point downwards. You see, water was drip, drip, dripping out. Now it just just drips very slowly. Does it mean that the 'wound' is opened, or sealed?

I've watered the area (couple of buckets) a few times since 11-15 Jun, at night times. I wonder, will I have to do this until it starts to rain again?

 

My dad has a montana that he is trying to get rid of, and it's proving almost impossible, so I think you're probably safe!

 

It is a vine, NOT a montanna

 

Earthman,many years ago I pruned one back very hard and it never survived:(
I was young and silly...I was young and ruthless..I've mellowed now and take great care to seek advice before I act...I'm still silly but now I know it:D.
Fingers crossed that she comes good:thumb:

 

Hey guys, well it seems she's come back to action. The trunks have quite a few shoots coming off them. I'll post a pic soon. Unfortunately, a lot of my plants now seem to have problems with them. A far cry from how it all looked in May:(