A simpler option when pruning Group 2 clematis vines is to severely prune the plant back by half in alternate years. They are divided into 3 groups which determine how they should be pruned. Ramona is a type 3 clematis, which means it blooms BEST on new wood. Take a step-by-step approach to pruning clematis. If you can’t figure out when to prune because you don’t know when the plant flowers, prune hard just what you need to to keep the size reasonable and let the rest go for a year. This group is the early-flowering species that produces flowers on the previous year's growth. If you’re just too busy, that's understandable, but if you never prune your clematis because you are afraid you’ll do wrong . If you have Henryi or Nelly Moser varieties, prune them in the early spring by cutting the vine just above the buds and removing the top part of the plant. If left unpruned, Clematis can turn into a mass of tangled stems with a bare base and flowers well above eye level. Cultivation. Clematis are the easiest to prune… The best way to make your Clematis bloom is to cut it. How to prune depends on which clematis variety you have. Group A or Group 1. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. This article has been viewed 30,886 times. Should I cut off the flowers after the petals have fallen? Late summer/fall clematis are pruned after blooming in the fall or the next spring. No clematis doesn't need to be deadheaded. Deadheading sends energy to create more flowers but prevents the whirlwind-like seedheads from forming. Clematis 'Ramona' (Clematis 'Ramona') will reach a height of 2.5m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 Years. If your clematis was planted this year, hold off on pruning until next season. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Prune-Clematis-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Prune-Clematis-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Prune-Clematis-Step-1.jpg\/aid1211627-v4-728px-Prune-Clematis-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"