sundays child wrote:
Hello people, This is my first post so please excuse me if it is not
in correct format or is in wrong place !
We moved into our home in August 2009. The garden is not very big, but
is very pretty with some lovely plants. A previous owner has obviously
loved it and has taken a lot of trouble to choose a really good mix of
shrubs, bulbs and perrenials. There is a pergola which has several
Clematis growing over it. From the labels left on the plants they are
all identified as winter flowering evergreens. The problem is, the
flowers are really insignificant and the plants have completely
swamped the pergola. We are at a loss as to what to to for the best.
They have obviously been there for several years as the stems are
really thick and intertwined and it would be really difficult
separating them to prune.

Should we bite the bullet and cut the whole lot down so we can plant
some of our choosing ? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

regards to all

It isn't clear to my what the question is. Why is a climber 'swamping' the
pergola so bad?

If you do you not like the plant get rid of it. If in your mind's eye
something else will look much better and suit your use of the space then
give it the chop.

You don't say where you are so I am going to guess you have just had winter
and are now into spring. Did your clematis bloom in winter like the label
said? If not when?

Has the spring growth started yet? If not and assuming it has just
flowered, how about pruning it now and see what happens next year. Pruning
is likely to improve flowering, you may end up liking it.

David