Why isn’t my clematis thriving? (Pictures!)

[GreenishFinger]

There’s a black eyed Susan just a couple of metres down which is running rampant, but my clematis hasn’t got off the starting blocks and looks so miserable. Can anyone identify why and what I should do please?

Two thing really. It is being eaten by either caterpillars or some other insect. Also I think it is planted too close to the fence and is starved of nutrients and water.

I would dig it up and prune it back really hard. I would put some good quality compost in a pot and overwinter it in the pot. There maybe some disease in your soil which might die off over winter. Don’t feed your plant while it is poorly.

Next spring dig some fresh compost into the planting hole and replant at least 18 inches away from the fence.

Agree with @FLOrenze

Clems are generally pretty hardy, I dug up one I'd discovered in my garden and potted it up and it's loved it! They'll handle a move fine.

Hmm that's interesting, thank you. We planted it in a nutrient-rich soil but it is overshadowed by a massive tree so thinking about it may it isn't getting as much water as it should be.

We can definitely replant it 18ins away but it is supposed to be a climber so I'd have thought it should be ok closer to the fence?

Is there anything I can do about it being nibbled on?

Love MN so much, advice on everything! Thank you :)

Insects do pray on poorly plants. There are all sorts of sprays but if you want to make your own, white vinegar, water and washing up liquid. This will coat the plant without killing the good guys.
As the leaves are relatively ok further down the plant, you can safely leave about 12 to 18 inches from the base.

if You are going to dig it up you can also rinse off the soil around the roots with a hose. That will make sure no evil gremlins transfer from your garden to the pot.

Did you plant it this year? Plants often spend the first year getting a good root system going, then take off in the second year

Stop press!! What the bugger are these insects?? I’ve just found about six of them in the dark, on the clematis!!!

Earwigs!!?

and to think we thought it was slugs!

how do we get rid?!

Gardens are mini microsystems, so I never use chemicals and never try and get rid of pests.

Earwigs are fine, they eat small pests and their eggs, including aphids and codling moths.

If your clematis was thriving and lush you wouldn't even notice some leaves are being eaten by earwigs.

And the reason your clematis isn't thriving is lack of water. That's all.

We're at the end of the season now, so I'd leave it until next spring then cut it right down and make sure it's well watered and it will make a fresh start and flourish. Each year it will get stronger and it won't be long before you don't have to worry about it, or the earwigs.

By all means we will water it more but that won’t stop the munching, it’s all over the poor thing and it will never grow if it keeps getting eaten.

Task for today is to find something to get rid of them 😆

Clematis like to be planted really deep. Try putting a really thick mulch around and maybe top with bark. Their roots need to be cool.

If it’s growing well it won’t get munched as much. Treat the root cause not the symptom.

They like their roots to be in the shade. Either cover with a thick layer of mulch, or get a few bricks and cover the whole root area