Clematis: Group 1 pruning?, 1 by pirl

pirl wrote:
You certainly know what you're doing with weeds and the weed seeds!

Some of us just cut any wilted stems down to the earth (or a bit below). It is best to keep the earth free of those diseased leaves so you're on the right track. I just attached two thoughts on clematis wilt and hope they help you.

Odd how coloring of clematises can vary so much with climate. Your Dr. Ruppel is much different from mine (unless that's Bee's Jubilee, which I don't have). The third photo looks just like 'The President'. Does the name ring a bell.

Here's Dr. Ruppel as it blooms here (photo #3).

We also had a very cold and snowy winter with many long stretches of very low temperatures. Many hydrangeas won't be blooming this summer but the only clematises I lost were three that were potted. Many potted daylilies were lost and one butterfly bush. All clematises that were planted did survive even if they are not blooming at the usual time.