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Clematis

Red mapleRed maple Posts: 988
in Plants
I have some lovely buds forming on my clematis plants, but notice that one or two buds have been attacked on one plant and have a neat hole about half a centimetre across burrowing into them. The buds haven’t died off, but will be deformed when they open up. I just wonder if anyone has an idea as to what the culprit might be? This particular clematis is growing in a container, and seems to be doing well overall.(Sorry I can’t remember it’s name, but it will be in flower next month and into June).

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,857
    Slugs or snails usually.  Try using a few wildlife friendly pellets in the pot and/or go out at dusk or early dark with a torch and pick the blighters off your treasure.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 988
    Thank you for your quick reply, obelixx. I don’t have any pellets, so will have to go out with the torch later. I thought it might have been a bit cold at night for them to be about just yet, but I suppose they’re tough little blighters! 
    I think I was imagining more of a burrowing grub/bee as the hole pierces through the body of the bud and the leaves are untouched, so hadn’t really thought that slugs/snails might be the culprits - I assumed they might still be hiding away, but of course, now Spring is springing and temperatures are warming up during the day, they’ll be coming out to feast. Anyway, as I say, I’ll be out later with my torch and then I’ll let you know if I caught any - we do get them a lot in our garden in the warmer, moister weather unfortunately.
    I’ll have to see if I can find any wildlife friendly pellets online as I’m aware that those blue pellets are harmful to a whole array of wildlife which I don’t want to harm at all. Trips to the garden centre are not allowed at the moment here, unfortunately.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    Slugs make holes like that in clematis buds. It's often the little tiny ones that do the most damage.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Red mapleRed maple Posts: 988
    Thank you Fairygirl. I’ll definitely be out with my torch later to see if I can catch the horrible things.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,857
    The tiny ones are really small, about 1cm stretched out.  I shifted a dozen or so off just one teeny hosta pot the other day.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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