neglected garden -

Great stuff all this abot pruning - shold have been a week or two earlier when I started. There is so much to do at this time which I suppose should have been done at the end of the season rather than the start.

What about pruning of Clematis Nelly Moser - do I cut to te round or merely take the top off? Also I have a Rhodedendron which has grown too tall - how har should I prune (presumably after flowering?)

 

Nelly Moser is a group b one.So pruning is done in Feb/March. Cut out all dead growth and then shorten all the remaining shoots to the first pair of good strong buds.
Rhododendrons are pruned as you say after flowering, but be careful if it is a grafted one, not to cut back below the graft.

 

Thanks for the help with that one Palustris - my previous efforts at pruning the Clematis were not very successful - hence the query.

 

when you buy a clematis it does not really tell you when and how to prune, only what GROUP it falls into FOR pruning.
perhaps the following may be of help to those that are not aware of how to prune, and the group number.
GROUP 1. RIPENED STEMS OF GROUP 1 PRODUCE FLOWERS STEMS FOR THE NEXT SEASON, SO PRUNE AFTER FLOWERING ONLY IF THE PLANT HAS BECOME OVER GROWN. THIN OR REMOVE STEMS THAT ARE GROWING DENSELYCUTTING THEM BACK TO THEIR POINT OF ORIGIN. CUT BACK TO A HEALTHY PAIR OF BUDS, OR MAIN STEM ANY SHOOTS THAT ARE DAMAGED.

GROUP 2..GROUP 2 FLOWER ON CURRENT SEASONS STEMS, SO PRUNE IN EARLY SPRING BEFORE GROWTH STARTS.
GROUP 3..THESE FLOWER ON THE CURRENT SEASONS GROWTH, SO PRUNE IN EARLY SPRING BEFORE NEW GROWTH STARTS, CUT JUST ABOVE THE LOWEST PAIR OF STRONG BUDS ON EACH STEM, THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT 9"-12" ABOVE THE GROUND, MAKE A CLEAN CUT ENSURING THE BUDS ARE NOT DAMAGED.

I hope this is helpful

 

I have seen a couple of sites that suggest Nelly Moser will flower first on the previous year's growth in May/June, and then again in September on the new year's growth. So I would give it a lightish prune in Feb/March, so as not to prejudice the first flowering.

But some early pruning now will keep it tidy and encourage it to bush out.

 

I have a Nelly Moser,a classic clematis.
I,ve had her for about 20 years,I always prune it about 18" from the ground and it always flowers twice.Totally reliable.................
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Only a pawn in the game.

 

Same here Bob, I mean Roders. Mine's not so old but I do the same. :D :D

 

I've only got three clematis, mainly cos I dont really like them. Makes me wonder why I've got three. :D
One happens to be a Nelly Moser and I've had it for years, I'm with PeterS on this one.
I prune after the first flowering about late May, and then only lightly, I dont find it much of a grower.
But then I dont give it much encouragement.

 

After flowering I nip off the dead heads and get another bloom...All but Montana get this treatment...and I've got seven which flower for months