We were so lucky to move into a house with very established clematis. There are 2 of them. This picture is of the same one (one today and one from last summer). The scond one is of equal size. It used to be so huge and beautiful. Last summer some of the brown didn't turn green and flower like summers past. It still is beautiful...but needs some love and I just don't know what sort of love to give. I am an organic gardener, and I live in South Central Wisconsin. I think they just need to be pruned very badly. I have been told you never cut the brown stuff that is always blooms. Until this past summer that had been true. I saw on a gardening show once you cut them almost to the ground. So I have no idea what is true and not.
I guess my question is do you prune clematis? If so how much do you cut off and when?
Thank you!