Clematis with bare bottom: how to fix it?

The bare-bottom problem with clematis

Your clematis has grown beautifully upward - nice flowers at 1.5 to 2 meters high. But when you look down, you are looking at bare stems without a leaf. This is the classic "clematis" problem: all the beauty is at the top, below is a dead-looking framework.

This happens to almost all clematis, especially if you have not pruned and trained them. The plant grows vertically upward toward the light, and as it grows, the lower leaves drop off. By the time the plant is mature, the bottom 1-1.5 meters is bare.

This is not only ugly, it is also inefficient. You miss the chance for flowers in the lower half, and your bottom looks like a bird box with thin legs.

The good news: this is fixable. It takes patience, but you can make your clematis full and leafy again from bottom to top.

Why does clematis become bare at the bottom?

Different reasons:

• Natural growth pattern: Clematis prefers to grow upward toward light. They do this naturally.
• Too little pruning: If you never cut a clematis, it just grows straight up, becomes long and floppy, and the lower leaves drop with age.
• Too much shade below: If your clematis grows against a wall with shade below, it will not invest energy there.
• Bound too tightly: Clematis that are bound tightly vertically will not expand downward.

TL;DR

Your clematis is bare at the bottom because it grows upward toward light and is not stimulated to expand downward. Solution: gently prune in spring, apply horizontal wires/ropes to stimulate side growth, and protect lower leaves.

How do you fix it?

Step 1: Prune gently in March

In March (or very gently in January), cut back your clematis. This is important:

• Always cut just above a bud/leaf pair
• For clematis that flowers a lot (late-flowering type): you can cut back hard (30-50 cm from ground)
• For clematis that flowers early (on last year's wood): more cautious pruning, higher up
• Your goal: stimulate side growth

By cutting back, you force your clematis to produce side shoots. That is what you want.

Step 2: Install horizontal wires

This is crucial! As long as your clematis grows vertically, the bottom will always be bare. You must install wires horizontally (or very slanted downward).

Use garden wire or soft rope pieces and tie the side shoots to these wires. This "argues" with the plant: "Do not grow straight up, grow sideways!" A plant that grows horizontally stops dropping lower leaves so easily.

You can do this carefully during the growing season (April-August). Side shoots that you have leaned sideways will send their own tops upward.

Step 3: Protect lower leaves

Once you see your plant beginning side growth at the bottom, you must handle it carefully. Side shoots at the bottom are fragile and can break easily.

• Give them water in dry periods
• Provide nutrition (in April/May some slow-release fertiliser)
• Do not handle them too much

Step 4: Patience - this takes 1-2 years

Do not expect your clematis to be full from bottom to top next summer. This is a gradual process. In year 1 you will see side growth at the bottom (good!). In year 2 you will have real leaves at the bottom. In year 3 hopefully you have a full clematis.

Specific pruning guides per clematis type

Clematis Group 1 (early flowering, on last year's wood)

Examples: Clematis montana, armandii, cirrhosa

Prune less hard - these flower on old shoots. Only cut dead parts back, or thin some out. Hard pruning means no flowers next spring.

For bare bottom: prune very carefully and horizontal training is your only chance.

Clematis Group 2 (repeat flowering, mixed)

Examples: Nelly Moser, The President, Henryi

These are more careful. Prune old shoots back to healthy wood, but leave some. Do not cut almost to zero.

Clematis Group 3 (late flowering, on this year's wood)

Examples: Jackmanii, Viticella, Texensis types

These you can prune hard. In March you can cut back to 30-50 cm from ground. These will regrow and be full of flowers in July-August.

Frequently asked questions

Can I prune my clematis now (April)?

Better wait until March, before growth starts. If you prune in April, you lose growing season. But if your clematis is already growing, you can carefully start training side shoots horizontally.

How long before the bottom is full again?

1-2 years on average. Some clematis are faster (Group 3), some slower (Group 1). You will see side growth at the bottom in year 1, but real full foliage takes until year 2-3.

Can I prune hard even if my clematis is already flowering?

No. Do not prune while your clematis is flowering. Wait until after flowering or until next March.

My clematis grows fast upward but nothing happens at the bottom. Why?

Probably:

• Too little light at the bottom (check if there is shade there)
• Plant gets too much nitrogen (stimulates only upward growth)
• You have not stimulated side growth by pruning or horizontal training

Solution: Prune in March, train sideways, less fertiliser.

Step-by-step

Step 1: Preparation (January-March)

Check what clematis type you have (early, mixed, or late flowering). This determines how you prune.

Step 2: Prune back

Cut back gently according to your type. For Group 3 you can prune hard. For Group 1 carefully.

Step 3: Horizontal training

Install horizontal wires and position side shoots there. This "forces" side growth.

Step 4: Monitor and feed

Give fertiliser in April-May. Water regularly. Wait patiently for side growth at the bottom.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal for clematis to become bare at the bottom?

Yes, very normal. Almost all clematis do this without training. You are not alone!

Can I still rescue old, bare clematis?

Yes! Even if your clematis has been bare for 5 years, it will still grow at the bottom if you prune it and train it horizontally. It takes longer, but it works.

Can I train other climbing plants horizontally too?

Yes! This works for many climbing plants. Hedera (ivy), Hydrangea petiolaris, even young roses can grow thicker and more leafy this way.

Discover your own garden design

At [gardenworld.app](https://gardenworld.app) you can upload your front yard and see how clematis fits in it - with realistic growth shapes and surrounding plantings. Plan your climbing plants before you prune.