How should I prune my overgrown clematis after flowering?
HUMAIRA SAYS Usually montanas should be shaped after flowering and that’s enough maintenance to keep them looking good, but if you really want to clear out the plant, then you can either prune out the congested parts or renovate the whole thing. This can feel a bit brutal because after flowering you’ll need to cut it right down to the old wood.
Give it some love in the form of organic mulch and go back to light pruning for the next few years. Gardeners tend to be tidy and there are lots of birds, insects and other garden friends that will be tucked into those tangled branches. So, before you get your pruning saw out, make sure that you check the plants carefully so you don’t damage or destroy any nests.