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Something biting off my mature clematis stems

janetltTrdYuajanetltTrdYua Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi, even now the stems are maturing / getting woodier, something is biting through them, not touching / leaving the leaves.  Three x approx 7”  of new growth lost just this week (July).  Tried cayenne pepper & slug pellets. Any ideas what is doing this? And how to make them stop!

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    That will be slugs,  they love clematis shoots. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Agree - slugs. They decimate mine [the later, large flowered ones] even when mature. 
    I'm at the point of giving up on them altogether. Too many slugs here.
    The early ones manage because they flower on old growth, and you don't cut them back like the later ones, so once they're established, they're tough enough to cope. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    7” shoots are not really classed as mature,  they’ll have those,  especially now the wet weather is back. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - they'll manage those. They do manage woodier ones as well - they certainly do here.
    It's a constant battle and I'm getting scunnered with it TBH. The last two winters have been too mild to keep them at bay a little longer too. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    We had harsh winters when we were in Belgium and the slugs just burrowed deep to avoid the frosty upper layers of soil.   Nevertheless, the more vigourous group 3 clematis did survive and thrive.

    I think you need to set a few beer traps or a light scattering of ferrous sulphate based slug pellets to deal with the problem.
    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
  • janetltTrdYuajanetltTrdYua Posts: 2
    Thanks everyone, beer and pellets it is! 
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