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Evergreen clematis munched by snails!

ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
in Problem solving
Clematis 'Avalanche' is in a large container and almost every leaf has been completely eaten by snails over just two nights. Do I just leave it and hope the leaves regrow on the stalks that are there, or should I cut it back hard - will it produce new growth from the base? Obviously I will try to provide better protection from the snails, but I think they were climbing up the wall and onto the plant that way, rather than going via the container, which had gravel and slug pellets in it. 

Posts

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Hopefully someone can better answer you.. but I would leave it, and hope it will re-leaf from side nodes.  
    Utah, USA.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What size is the plant - by that I mean, was it a young, small plant, or a mature, 2, 3 or 4 yr old one?
    If it was a decent size, with a good rootball, it'll come back, but it's worth checking at night to remove molluscs - from as many plants as you can. Bit of a trial, but if you can get them while plants are producing soft, new growth, it can help enormously. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ThankthecatThankthecat Posts: 421
    Thanks - I only bought this and planted it last autumn, so it's only a couple of years old at most. I'll pick off snails and leave it unpruned and hope to see new growth soon.
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