Oh blimey, one of my clients had an obelisk like that, what a pain in the proverbial to weed inside! I used to get my garden fork and loosen the soil at an angle, with the tines pointing in a bit, then reach in and lift out the weeds complete with roots, sometimes having to tip the obelisk slightly to one side or another. Can be done, but fiddly.

I sympathise, Bornagain. I have a similar problem! I'm considering cutting the clematis right down in spring, removing the obelisk and giving the area a thorough weeding in the hope of alleviating the problem.

Thanks both, do you think if I cut both down they would be alright? Possibly try obelisk with a pot lol:-)

What variety of clematis are they?

Can't remember Bamboo, I always think I will, so often don't make a note, looks like ville de lyon on photo I think. The larger white flower was the subject of an earlier question of mine as to its identity. Would it cause much harm, as they've grown quite well in a season?

I would go to the sporting goods store and get a fish hook remover: it's a spring-loaded squeeze handle, a long "neck", with a pair of little jaws on the end. I use it to pick leaves and weeds out of my cactus garden.

Thanks, Tugbrethil, I'm afraid the weeds here are mainly deep rooted:-( But mans ingenuity never ceases to amaze me, and your tool sounds as though it could come in very handy for many things:-)

Bornagain, it really isn't that difficult to get those weeds out if you follow the method I mentioned above. However, if you think its Ville de Lyon, that does need pruning down to about 2 buds, or 6/8 inches from the ground, by mid February every year. Don't know about the other one though.

Thanks Bamboo, I think I really want to get rid of the obelisk and let them climb the cotinus and deutzia strawberry fields which will hopefully be large enough next year. I will use the obelisks (Ihave 2 one unused) and bear your advice in mind. I have recently bought a 2 pronged weeding fork from Eden Project, so i suppose I've no excuse except I'm afraid of catching the clem stems with any implement as it's impossible to see:-)