Where do you cut back to on a dying clematis Montana?

[Shetom]

Hello,

I had a lovely Clematis Montana that flowered with beautiful pink flowers just this May. Unfortunately, I think it accidentally got some weed killer on it and it has almost killed it off. I am very upset about it but you can see from the photos it’s not looking good. Do I cut it back and see if it survives? If so, where do you cut back to? Also, if I planted another Montana to grow up the same frame, with different colour flowers, would this affect it returning from the brink of death any further?

Hello Shetom,

I would leave you clematis in place until the autumn to see if it comes back in to growth and if it does not I would treat yourself to a new one. If it does not come back in to growth I would plant one before the soil cools down and as the moisture levels rise from September to the middle of October so as to allow it can establish before the winter.
You could also do the thumbnail test on different places on the stems. Scrap a small amount of bark away and if it is green underneath then it is still alive if it’s any other colour then it will be dead or dying.
if you do have to go for a new one I hope the attached will help you in your selection. It was from Garden News magazine April 13, 2024.
Happy gardening
TheSustainableGardener

First cut out anything that's obviously dead, diseased or dying.

What sort of weedkiller was it and which bit of the plant was it on? If it was glyphosate which is a systemic killer (put it on the leaves and it'll get taken down to the roots) then I fear the plant is a goner. At all events at this point I'd probably cut back to below anything that looks ill to try to limit further spread and then see if it dies back further or regrows.

Tbh clematis Montana aren't that expensive for the amount of plant you get, I think if I wanted two colours I might give up on this one and plant two new ones at each end of the frame so they get this summer to grow - planted now I think you should get a full seasons growth and flowers next year, if you wait to see how the poisoned one does then you'll probably miss out on flowers next year.