"DigitalVinyl" wrote in message
...
Last year I successfully grew one clematis. A Polish Spirit. I haven't
cut it at all, just let all the leaves die on the vine. After winter a
lot of leaves are dried in place. I remember the clematis had very
delicate, brittle wood when it was growing.

How can you tell this is still viable wood vs. dead wood? (it looks so
dead!)

I can't see damage, but other vines have died off from very tiny
damage. Do you just wait it out?

When do clematis first show life? After frost date?

'Polish Spirit' is a viticella clematis. It requires a hard pruning each
spring, approximately at the same time forsythia is done blooming. A hard
pruning is down to 12" - no further. ALL newly planted clematis will benefit
from a hard pruning after their first season in the ground - it strengthens
the root system and makes them more resistant to clematis wilt. After their
first season, you will need to prune according to their type and bloom time,
but not to the ground.

If you have other clematis questions, check the website of the International
Clematis Society or the GardenWeb Clematis forum. Both have excellent FAQ's
and very knowledgeable posters.

pam - gardengal