Unsure how to help my Clematis Henryi
My clematis is 7 years old. I’ve cut it down each spring for the last few years due to a new puppy/dog that insists on chewing on it. Prior to that it didn’t seem to like the treated wood on the deck, or a pest was eating the leaves - I never quite figured it out.
This year I let it grow and it avoided the wood and seemed to thrive. A bad hail storm tore the flowers and leaves up a bit but they’re starting to look a bit sick maybe. I put in a couple of garden posts for it to grow up onto since it was growing into a small metal gate of sorts only a couple feet high.
It seems it has flowers primarily on one side (facing east)- the other side not so much. Is that something I’m doing or maybe the late afternoon and evening sun are too much for it?
It’s very dense in the bulk of it and I’m wondering if I should be thinning out or just cutting dead or bad looking leaves throughout? Should I cut the flowers after the petals fall? Any other suggestions on how to help this clematis thrive?
I do not have a green thumb - this is the only plant I have had for more than a year and haven’t killed. I live in zone 4b/5a and have winter snow. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.