I'm in the process of working through the overgrown garden of our new house. It has extensive gardens with more plants than I know the name of, but I'll figure it out over time. One that I do recognise is a clematis, which looks ancient judging by the thick woody stems braided through the trellis tunnel thing its trained over (see photo - hopefully it hasn't loaded sideways again!!).
However, like everything else in the garden, it's gone a bit rampant, with growth sticking out and twirling around itself. There are no flowers on it.
I don't know much about clematis but I do know they have particular needs, and I wondered what would happen if I trimmed it back at this time of year? Would it hurt it? Should I just leave it? I have absolutely no idea what variety it is, nor do I know how to tell.
Can anyone advise?