Ordered from an online distributor (probably not the top of the line for clematis) and got some poor specimens of bareroot daylilies and 3 clematis rooguchi plants.

The clematis were in 6 inch deep pots with about a foot of growth dry and crumbling, and with broken in half semi-woody stems. I was not optimistic until I looked at the roots in the pots. All 3 had decent sized, pot filling roots that swirled the bottom and had good turgor. I planted all 3 immediately in the ground (eastern exposure) and watered.

My question is, to nurture their survival, should I completely cut off the dry top growth and broken in half stems (that are hanging by just a touch) or should I leave the top growth and just let the roots do their thing throughout the summer and fall?

Thanks in advance.