Hi Jenn. Although I am in the Bay Area, I find clematis pretty easy. I've heard you're supposed to cut them back in the Spring or early Winter, but I have done that some years and not done it other years...it doesn't seem to matter. I do like to hit them with 0-10-10 over the Winter months. Then I just water once a week Spring through Summer. Have very nice flower displays. I don't know what you can do about the "dead-vine" look.
Here is jackmanii romping through some old climbing rose. There are other clematis planted in this area but I can't remember which ones...usually the ones available from big-boxes. The President is one. Nelly Moser usually blooms down low in this area too.
{{gwi:503872}}

Thank you, deep_roots. That is beautiful! I love the color combo.

I'll experiment this year and see if there's any way to prevent it from looking like a dead climbing weed in fall and winter.

All three of those varieties can be cut back hard all the way to the ground or to the first set of buds and they will resprout and bloom later in the year. You will get earlier blooms if you leave them alone but if you dislike the ratty look and dead leaves you are better off just cutting them back hard.

Thank you, I'll try that this year. Fortunately they are not "front and center" but close enough to enjoy their beauty when in bloom and to wonder "what's that weed growing on your fence" when not in bloom. :)

I cut mine back to leave four buds per stem. This is the first year I have tried a variety that does well in my climate, and I bought a big one in a 15 gal container instead of wasting my money on bare-root ones yet again. I don't have the skills for bare-root anything. I'll report back on the results this spring.
Renee

If you have any threat of gopher plant your new Clematis in some sort of chicken wire or anti gopher cage. They love the fat juicy Clematis roots.