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Half eaten Clematis stem - please help!

viatorviator Posts: 17
in Problem solving
Hi all,

So, i planted a Clematis "Samaritan Jo" earlier this year and its been scrambling up the obelisk nicely with no real growing issues at all (other than some minor chlorosis). It is currently covered in buds with more and more forming by the day and it has already started flowering.

However, i've recently come back from holiday and a couple of days ago, i noticed that one of the newer stems shooting from below the ground at the base had started wilting. It was a young stem with various off-shoots and a few small buds on it. Fearing it had succumbed to clematis wilt, i went to cut it off below ground level today only to find that the stem appears to have been munched on from within the soil which has obviously prevented its uptake of nutrients and water etc. Ive attached a few pictures. Does anyone know what could have done this? And if its some sort of bug in the soil, is there anyway to get rid of it?

Thanks in advance!

Gill


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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Slugs and snails love juicy new clematis stems, leaves and buds.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • viatorviator Posts: 17
    Hi @Obelixx! Thanks for your reply. Slugs and snails surely wouldnt be able to eat the stem at a good 4cm below soil level though? This was where the damage was.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Slugs hide in the soil to stop themselves drying out in the sunshine!   When it freezes, they burrow as deep as they need to keep above freezing so yes, they can certainly go down 4cms.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Richard HodsonRichard Hodson Posts: 790
    What are the stones for round the base ?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's the home for the slugs and snails, Richard  ;)
    Seriously though, Gill - that's exactly what they like. Nice stones to hide under when it's hot/dry.
    If you take them away, that'll help. They'll have to find somewhere else, and you can hunt them down and dispatch them more easily. They love a juicy clem stem.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • viatorviator Posts: 17
    @Obelixx - I didnt know that! Thanks for the clarification. I thought they just hid under leaf litter etc. Will keep an eye out for any slugs in the vicinity!

    @Richard Hodson They are just to help keep the roots a bit cooler until i can plant something in front of the clematis. 
  • viatorviator Posts: 17
    Thanks, @Fairygirl! Ill get rid ASAP. Might prompt me to get my butt into gear and plant all the hebes i bought earlier this year that are still sitting on the patio :D
  • Richard HodsonRichard Hodson Posts: 790
    Why do you want to keep the roots cool ?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The stones/rocks thing to 'keep roots cool' is a bit of a myth, and isn't necessary.  As you've discovered, it can cause more problems! :)

    I might follow your example, and finally get around to potting on all the small plants in 3 inch pots that are last year's cuttings  ;)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • viatorviator Posts: 17
    Most literature ive read, including on forums like this one, say that you should keep the roots cool! Its difficult to know what guidelines to follow sometimes. I've planted other clematis' and honeysuckle this year too so ill remove the stones and monitor how they do. My garden is a bit of a suntrap and the soil can get very hot so i was being a bit cautious until the roots get established :)
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