The best way, and most efficient, to prune and keep a butterfly bush looking nice is to cut in back almost to the ground every spring. You can use lopers or a chain saw depending on how large the limbs are.

It blooms on new wood every year.

Hi Wiz!

Brain is correct, there are three categories of Clematis based on how to prune them. I advise clients to keep the tags that come with them so they know which ones need to be pruned how; however you are not likely to kill them if they are not pruned properly as they are very resilient!

The Jackmanii is a summer bloomer and also blooms on new wood. Therefore, it should be pruned back each year so you will have better blooms. However, if you want it to grow taller each year, don't cut it back as far as you did the year before.

Here's a good website that explains the 3 categories of clematis.

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/c...824028038.html

Thanks Cheryl and Brain,

I cut it back to about 12 inches. Last spring I divided it to put in another part of the yard. That plant was trimmed back by the rabbits over the winter. It has growth already too.

Jackmanii is one of my favorites. I wish I had a place in my yard to plant them so I could see them. I just did a landscape design for a friend and one entire fence line off their patio was several different colors of clematis. I can hardly wait for them to bloom!

I am such a novice at gardening. My DH has always taken care of the yard. But we just moved and the yard is huge! There is so much to be done and I know it will take years to get it in shape, but I thought it would be nice to start with some flowerbeds.

I just jumped the gun on spring and spent a lot of $$$ at WalMart on several varieties. If I list their names, will you tell me which ones I Don't need to worry about planting too early? I know pansies are very resilient, and I bought lots of them and violas.

But I don't know about these:

• Cannulas
• Phalaris (grassy bush thing)
• Anemone
• Petunias
• Alyssium

I'm guessing the hyacinths will be okay in the cold, as they are from bulbs? They are about 8-10 inches tall.

It just won't warm up here!!! It actually started to snow when we were loading this stuff in the truck, lol.

But this weekend should be nice. BTW, I know FlyGirl knows I'm in central Utah, but maybe the rest of you gardeners don't.

One more question. We have a lovely view of the nearby mountains from our back patio, except there is a construction company that parks their unattractive vehicles a few hundred yards away.

We need something that will grow 10-15 feet high along a stretch of about 50 feet of fence. That way we won't have to look at the road graders, but we can still see the mountains. The fence isn't particularly sturdy, but it does keep the neighbor's horses from getting into the yard.

Thanks for any suggestions.

You could try sweet peas (there are perennial types). I'm starting some from seed this spring in fact.

Also Morning glorys are easy from seed. And there are the
old standby Hollyhocks.

Most really tall flowering plants you would probably have to do from seed. Clematis is tricky I think.

But there are ivy's, and other vines like that. Those would be available in stores. If this is in full sun? Try some green beans!

You could do bushes in front of the fence... upright cedars are pretty elegant (but they would cost more money in the beginning.)

What are your watering potentials there? Can you reach with a hose? If you cannot water, you'd have to have something that likes dry conditions. I'd consider light and water first, then move on to the other choices based on those.

Hmmm, I hadn't thought about cedars. Green beans, lol! The fence is only about 4' high. Maybe some corn!

Yes, it is full sun and yes, we can drag a hose.

If I can figure out how to do it, I'll post a "before" picture.

Hollyhocks or sunflowers will grow higher than your 4' fence, and you can stake if needed. The morning glory or perennial sweet peas sound good to cover the fence itself.

My hollyhocks get about5-6 ft high, but check what kind of sunflowers, as they vary in height depending on the kind you get. Some get 12-15 ft high.

I find Lowe's and Menard's are good for inexpensive trees and shrubs, if you want to go that route. I'm partial to purple sand cherry's, as they bloom in the spring and have red/purple foliage all summer/fall. They grow fairly quick, not too large, nice and graceful.

It's nice to get something that's already 4-5 ft high or better.

Hiya Twink! I haven't been able to get on the pc lately, but I'm still here

Did you consider Bamboo? There are many to choose from & in your climate I do not believe they are likely to run rampard?? I planted a 30' x 2' living fence of the "Black Bamboo". It will take a few years to establish itself but then will go wild on me here in the south...so I had to dig in a barrier 3' down also. Mine is growing at about 15' but even the taller ones will stop growing at the point they are cut from & then produce side shoots to fill in.

Another idea...raised beds...that way you can plant even shorter growing plants.

Please DO show before & afters pics!