On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 10:38:56 -0500, "rosie readandpost"
wrote:

protecting the new stems seems to be quite important....................
would you advise not cutting down the old stems in fall, so the new ones have EXTRA protection?

rosie



If your climatis is one that blooms in the spring or early summer, the
flowering mechanism will be in the old stems. By cutting that off,
your clematis will be limited in bloom next year. For a clematis
that blooms late summer and fall, pruning in the fall will not impact
next year's bloom because the flowering buds will be on new stem
growth. I have both types, leave them alone, and they are very
prolific. They will benefit from mulch.