Clematis Josephine

[honkytonkgal]

Had this climber for well over 3 years i have never pruned it as it has two flush of flowers june and september with the last flower lasting untill december so when would be the best time to prune it.

[Clanad]

All multi-seasonal flowering clematis should be pruned in early spring. The accompanying site suggests February, but obviously, that applies to climates allowing early work. The pruning should only remove the dead or damaged wood, unlike other varieties requiring hard pruning either in late fall or early spring...
Good luck!

http://www.beamishclematisnursery.co.uk/clematis.htm

[logman]

I can second clanads answer. I have ingrained in my mind feb/march, hard-back to about 18," will rejuvinate most varieties..

[Plocket]

Josephine is a Group 2 clematis which flowers off the previous years growth. Remove dead or weak stems in February/March and the remaining should be pruned to a strong pair of buds. Vary the lengths of the stems to allow for flowers at different heights. If the plant is bare at the base it can be pruned to approx 12-18 inches immediately after flowering. Feed regularly with a high potash food to encourage the second flush of flowers.

[WendyS]

I also prune mine in early Spring before the new growth starts to burst. Prune it hard back to between about 18 inches from ground level. It may look drastic but they recover very quickly. Sprinkle some compost or fertiliser around the base and keep the roots moist and protected from the sun.