How to prune clematis 'ernest markham'

Late winter to early spring (February–March). Cut all stems back to 30–45 cm above soil level, to a pair of plump, healthy buds. Remove prunings and feed with a balanced fertiliser. New growth emerges from the base and lower buds, producing strong flowering stems through summer and into autumn on the current season's wood.

Annually (hard cut every late winter). Clematis 'Ernest Markham' is Group 3, flowering on current season's growth from midsummer. Hard prune all stems to 30–45 cm each late winter. This magenta-red clematis can also be treated as Group 2 with a lighter cut, but without a hard prune stems become congested, bare at the base, and flowering declines.

Cut all stems back to 30–45 cm above soil level, to a pair of plump, healthy buds. Remove prunings and feed with a balanced fertiliser. New growth emerges from the base and lower buds, producing strong flowering stems through summer and into autumn on the current season's wood.