correct pruning of my Polish Spirit

14 years ago

In May of 2009 I purchased a potted Polish Spirit about 18" in height. After planting, it grew to about 4 feet the 1st summer with adequate blooms up my lamp post. Unknowingly I pruned it to 12" in mid december! After the long snowy winter, the base started gowing in March and is now about 5 ft tall as of April 22nd. The plant looks very healthy with the top 12" having straight long buds. Since this is a summer/fall blommer, should I prune it again??

I am at a loss for what to do.

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Comments (5)

dublinbay z6 (KS)
14 years ago
Here in Zone 6 Kansas, I prune all clems in February, and that is it for the year. That includes the Group II clems and the Group III clems. If they are supposed to undergo later pruning, please don't let my clems know--because I don't do any later pruning, nor do I have any intentions of beginning now. What my clems don't know won't hurt 'em--huh? LOL

Kate
sandyl
14 years ago
Polish Spirit is a prunning group 3. If I was you I would not prune it now since its already that tall with new growth, enjoy the blooms and then prune it after the first flush. Since you did prun it in mid December which was to early, but it was still dormant anyway I don't think it hurt a thing. December or Febuary not a big differance, still winter at that time and it wasn't growing above ground at that time anyway. So I vote enjoy the blooms and then prune for maybe a later fall flush. Here in TN I always prune my 3's in Febuary and then again after the first flush and I get another bloom flush later in the year. Sandy
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polishspirit
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks Sandy.............In your experience, what is the natural reaction of the clematis when it reaches higher than the height of the climbing apparatus. Mine is almost higher then my light post
dublinbay z6 (KS)
14 years ago
Sandy, how much do you prune your 3s after the first flush?

Not that I want to start spoiling my clems (LOL), but it might be helpful info. to keep on file--for future reference.

Thanks,

Kate
sandyl
14 years ago
Polish Spirit What my experience has been is once they reach the height of whatever I have them on is that they flop down and continue to grow and bloom. Here is a link to my Ramona last year and she had reached the top and flopped back over and just kept on growing and blooming. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/clematis/msg051911444274.html
Kate I prune my 3's back to about three or four leaf section from the gound. Please note most of my three's already have 10 to 12 runners of vines coming from the ground due to the prunning I give them yearly anyways. I was giving a Polish Spirit about 3 weeks ago by my mom and it is a two year old plant and I potted it up and pinched out the top and probably will continue to pinch most of the summer on it. It's still a very nice size plant. Sandy