Trimming Apple Trees and Clematis in the Spring

It's finally Spring in the northern part of the United States. I have some apple trees and I have some Clematis in my yard. Two things that need to be trimmed. What am I supposed to trim in the Spring and what was I supposed to trim in the Fall, that I didn't do, because it got too cold too fast and it just didn't happen?

Apple Trees
Some people trim their apple trees in the fall, but if you live in a place where winters can be harsh, it is best to wait for spring. In the spring, apple trees need to be trimmed right before the buds start to grow. Prune off suckers and small branches, especially those that grow straight up from major branches. It is best to keep the branches that grow at an angle away from the trunk because these are the strongest. According to the University of Wisconsin Extension, studies have shown that the angle of an apple tree's branch determines how much fruit grows. Branches that grow straight up will produce very little, to no fruit. Branches that grow out to the side from the trunk will grow a lot of apples. Also trim off branches in areas where there are a cluster of branches that seem too thick. Air and light needs to get to all branches in order for apples to grow.

Clematis
The trimming of Clematis can be very confusing. Some clematis flowers grow on old wood and some on new, so you have to know what kind of clematis you have in order to know if you should trim it in the spring or the fall. And if that's not confusing enough, some clematis flowers grow on both old and new wood.

For clematis that flowers on old wood, remove only dead stems in the spring. You can then prune them in early summer after they are done blooming. If you don't know what kind of clematis you have, ones that flower in spring grow on old wood.

For clematis that grow on new wood or clematis that grows either in the summer or early fall, trim very lightly in the spring. You actually don't have to trim these, but if you don't, eventually they will stop blooming.

Then there are the clematis that grow on both old and new wood. These are the clematis that bloom both in the spring and later in the season. If you get more flowers in the spring, then just a very, very light trim in the spring or late fall. If it isn't looking very nice and needs more, then prune it more after it has flowered in the spring. If you get few flowers in spring but more later in the season then prune in early spring.