I prune all my type 2 clematis to the first leaf node each spring for the first 3 years they are in the ground. I lose some early bloom but it encourages more vines from the ground and I get later bloom. After that I prune them at least half way back and sometimes all the way back after the first flush of bloom. That way I get a large second flush of bloom. I don't know how this would work in your climate.

Thank you Bob. I printed this out and I will do the same. I appreciate your help.

I don't prune GC much at all. It is 5 years old and is growing up through a large, late-blooming lilac. It blooms early and fairly heavily top to bottom in the lilac, before the lilac blooms. My growing season is relatively short, so I never get a second round of blooms.

In the PNW we often get a second bloom on Type IIs even if hard pruned in early spring.

I would hard prune it for the first three years, I do all of my Type IIs every year much of the time.

The help that I am receiving from everyone here is very much appreciated. bos...This is good news for me because I can prune it back at the same time as my Jackmanii. I would like to know if I do prune it right back in the spring, will it grow more vines like Jackmanii does? Thanks again for all your help.

Yes, it will but it won't be as vigorous nor as tall as Jackmanii.

Thank you bos. That's fine with me, I didn't want it to get as big as Jackmanii anyway. As always, thank you for your help.