Thank you GardenerSuze. There are three plants showing this problem, A Ville de Lyon, and Rouge Cardinal, and an anonymous ancient one. As I have said earlier the splitting occurs and I prune past it but the problem still creeps along - and the Ville de Lyon has lost a stem right down to root level. I prune down in spring to about 18 inches - but as this has only happened this year I have no idea if this will cure the problem.
The problem is usually caused by snails in early summer - as you have noted that's when the problem started, they strip the outer layer and at weak points the stem will split. At this time of year it's not such a problem as we tend to prune later on, but in Spring it can cause stems to 'wilt', which mimics the disease but it isn't actually wilt itself.. Here are some of mine today..
.you can see that due to mild wet weather, they are still active in my garden and stripping the outer skin off.. Not worth worrying about it this time of year..
I sometimes see very similar damage on my clematis stems ... I have discovered that snails climb the stems overnight and graze on the clematis bark as they go. The effects are as you show.
The subject of Clematis wilt is a complicated one. I am unable to help if that is the problem as I am not an expert on the subject. It isn't something you often see where the whole plant wilts. However in the absence of any other explanation I wonder if it could be linked. You are pruning them correctly. The good news is even with the presence of wilt new shoots also form from below ground. Slugs and snails can cause thin lines on the stems but not sure if it actually causes them to peel.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Slugs/snails are certainly a nuisance early in the year - especially the sneaky small ones. Perhaps you're also cutting off viable stems unnecessarily. Rouge Cardinal is very very tough, and can withstand even the plentiful snails/slugs we get here. A lovely clematis. I don't grow V. de Lyon.
Wilt is often touted as the problem when it really isn't, as already said. Wilting of a plant is more often due to that mollusc problem, where a stem is damaged lower down, causing it to die back.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Next year go out with a torch on mild damp nights and look at your clematis … my bet is that you’ll find this chap 🐌 and some of his friends and relations 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 🐌 grazing on the stems.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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Here are some of mine today..
.you can see that due to mild wet weather, they are still active in my garden and stripping the outer skin off..
Not worth worrying about it this time of year..
Have a look here ... scroll down to the Snail Questions section
https://www.thompson-morgan.com/pests/snails
Edited to add: @Marlorena's post hadn't appeared here when I posted this ... I agree with her 100%
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You are pruning them correctly. The good news is even with the presence of wilt new shoots also form from below ground. Slugs and snails can cause thin lines on the stems but not sure if it actually causes them to peel.
Perhaps you're also cutting off viable stems unnecessarily. Rouge Cardinal is very very tough, and can withstand even the plentiful snails/slugs we get here. A lovely clematis. I don't grow V. de Lyon.
Wilt is often touted as the problem when it really isn't, as already said. Wilting of a plant is more often due to that mollusc problem, where a stem is damaged lower down, causing it to die back.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
THose who know clematis will recognise this growth characteristic.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.