05/03/2026
Excellent selection of climbers fresh in last week!
Some fantastic varieties of early flowering clematis Montana, as well as the reliable showstopper trachelospermum jasminoides - evergreen star jasmine.
Have you got an established clematis in your garden?
Now might be the time for pruning if it’s a group 3 variety (a late-summer flowerer).
These varieties can be pruned back hard - cut back to just above a strong pair of leaf buds, about 30cm (1ft) above soil level, especially the first spring after planting.
This will encourage further stems.
Clematis with multiple healthy stems at the base will not need to be pruned as hard.
For more clematis pruning advice, and to read about the different groups, we always refer to the RHS:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/clematis/pruning-guide