That would be my question as well. I have never needed to spray anything for any reason on any of my clematis over all my many years of growing them. And I grow a fair number of them in containers. What is your intent?

Okay, I take that back........:-) I have used Plantskydd now and again to keep the deer away. They rather favor munching off the flower buds.............

A soil drench involves the plant absorbing the product it's drenched with. Since I'm inquiring about a Neem Oil soil drench my intention is to deter pests that eat my clematis leaves and flowers. If anyone has experience with a Neem Oil soil drench on containered clematis I'd love to hear your experience...

https://www.hunker.com/12569302/what-is-a-soil-drench

I am entirely aware of what a soil drench is. My question - and I think that of Bab's also - is of a need. Unfortunately, neem oil - or any other pesticide used as a soil drench - will not deter insects. Few, if any, insecticides act in that manner. Could help to apply when something actually harms them but in all my years of growing clematis....and a great many of them in containers......insects have never been an issue. Not even slugs and snails, which I have in abundance, are a big issue!

What sort of insect problems have you experienced?

Something is eating the leaves of my clems. Every year something eats holes through the leaves of my clems. I use slug/snail pellets in addition to neem oil spray. Not exactly sure what the culprit is.

For newly emerging clematis shoots, I would look to slug or snail damage, which is what appears to have caused the damage in your photo.

As previously mentioned, very few insects find these appealing so choices of culprits are limited. No Japanese beetles here but now and again I will get a flower bud damaged by earwigs. But is not enough of a concern to be especially on the alert for earwigs and neem is not the most efficient method to control them anyway.

Thanks Gardengal, I'm using Miracle Grow Nature's Care slug/snail repellent but maybe I need to use more. Even mature plants have gotten eaten. Here's a couple photos from last year on more mature plants.

I use Sluggo, which is a similar product (I am not inclined to purchase anything with a MG label :-)). But it does need to be reapplied frequently.

I am guessing the slugs and snails that populate my garden - and I live in the PNW so there are zillions of of them - find other, more easily accessible food sources to munch on as they rarely have ever bothered my potted clems. Or those planted in the ground.

I think I read egg shell deterred them? Is that not right?

The damage to your clematis leaves could be due to earwigs. They come out at night to munch. You can try using Diatomaceous Earth around the base of clematis or use half a grapefruit peel as a trap for earwigs.

Sluggo plus controls slugs and earwigs. A neem drench isn't going t do the trick. It isn't a systemic chemical. It won't be sucked up through the roots to the leaves....

How about neem oil on roots that have had fungus? I have pruned mine hard and want to protect the new growth

Neem has some fungicidal properties but how those may be activated when used as soil drench for roots is unclear. And to clarify, neem can be used as a systemic drench. It is effectively drawn up by the plant tissue and can deter insect pests but is not that long lasting and will need to be reapplied for maximum results.

" Firstly, when used as a soil drench, neem oil acts as a systemic insecticide. The oil is drawn up into the plant's vascular system by the roots. This means that its present throughout the plant's structure, and harmful insects that feed on your plant will be exposed to it. ".

That sounds promising, thank you. I think the problem was too far gone, spraying the foliage was futile.