
Honeysuckle, Lonicera spp., is an invasive and interesting plant that grows flowers that give off a sweet fragrance, warm and eye-catching leaves, and climbing abilities that cover structures like fences, trellises, and arbors. But left unpruned or poorly pruned, honeysuckle becomes overgrown and unruly and tends to become less productive. Pruning is required to keep it healthy, beautiful, and in a nice shape. This article will take you through everything you need to know to prune honeysuckle properly.
Why Prune Honeysuckle?
Pruning is one of the essential honeysuckle care due to the following reasons:
Encourages Healthy Growth: Pruning removes dead, diseased, or damaged wood, making it possible for the plant to use energy to produce healthy growth.
It Encourages Flowering: Trimming old growth encourages new shoots, and this is the most common location where flowers come out.
Controls Size and Shape: Honeysuckle can grow rapidly and become invasive. Pruning keeps it manageable and prevents it from overwhelming other plants or structures.
Improves Air Circulation: Thinning dense growth reduces the risk of fungal diseases by improving air circulation around the plant.
When to Prune Honeysuckle
The timing of pruning depends on the type of honeysuckle you have:
Deciduous Honeysuckle: They should be pruned when they become bare or lose their leaves, during the late winter or early spring ahead of new growth.
Evergreen Honeysuckle: These retain their leaves year-round and are usually pruned after flowering- usually in late summer/early autumn.
Renovation Pruning: If your honeysuckle has become too long, you can hard prune it in late winter or early spring. This may temporarily suppress flowering for a season as the plant recovers.
Tools You’ll Need
Before you begin pruning, make sure you have the following tools on hand:
- Pruning Shears: These are best for cutting smaller stems and branches.
- Loppers: For thicker branches.
- Gloves: These protect your hands from thorns or rough stems.
- Disinfectant: To clean your tools and prevent the spread of disease.
- Ladder: If your honeysuckle is growing high on a trellis or arbor.
Step-by-Step Guide to Pruning Honeysuckle
1. Assess the Plant
Start by examining your honeysuckle. Identify areas with dead, diseased, or damaged wood. Look for tangled or overcrowded growth that needs thinning. This initial assessment will help you plan your pruning.
2. Remove Dead, Diseased, and Damaged Wood
Using your pruning shears or loppers, cut away dead, diseased, and damaged stems. Leave clean cuts above a healthy bud or branch junction. Discard the cuttings, avoiding the spread of disease.
3. Thin Overcrowded Growth
To increase air circulation and light penetration, remove some of the older, thicker stems. Cut back those stems that cross over one another or grow inwards. Try to leave a balanced structure with evenly spaced branches.
4. Shape the Plant
Prune long, unruly stems to maintain desired shape and size of your honeysuckle. Climbing varieties should be guided along trellis or support structure as new growth emerges. Bushy types should be pruned to provide a compact rounded shape.
5. Encourage New Growth
Remove flowering stems to one-third of its length to stimulate the development of new shoots. In most cases, these new shoots will form flowers for the following season.
6. Clean Up
Once you’ve finished pruning, gather all the clippings and dispose of them properly. Clean your tools with disinfectant to prevent the spread of disease to other plants.
Special Considerations for Overgrown Honeysuckle
If your honeysuckle has been neglected and become overgrown, it may require renovation pruning. Follow these steps:
Cut Back Severely: Cut the plant back to about 1-2 feet above the ground. This is drastic, but honeysuckle is very hardy and will recover.
Remove Old Wood: Target the oldest, thickest stems to make room for new growth.
Monitor Recovery: Water and fertilize the plant to help it recover. Do not prune again until it is fully reestablished.
Tips for Keeping Healthy Honeysuckle
Watering: Honeysuckle likes to grow in damp but well-drained soil. Water regularly; especially during dry seasons.
Fertilizer: Use a balanced fertilizer in the spring to foster growth and bloom.
Mulch: Mulching around the bottom of the plant promotes moisture retention, suppresses weed growth, and even helps retain nutrient levels in the soil.
Pest Control: Monitor for aphids, spider mites, and powdery mildew. Treat it immediately if such infestations have occurred.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Pruning at the Wrong Time: Pruning too late in the season can remove flower buds and reduce blooming.
Over-Pruning: Removing too much foliage can stress the plant and hinder growth.
Neglecting Clean-Up: Leaving clippings around the plant can attract pests and diseases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I prune honeysuckle in the fall?
A: Deciduous Honeysuckle should not be pruned in autumn for fear of stimulating new growth that is likely to be killed by the winter. But you can very lightly prune the evergreen varieties after flowering.
Q: How often shall I prune my honeysuckle?
A: You can prune your honeysuckle regularly each year. Prune for renovation only every few years or when the plant becomes overgrown.
Q: Will pruning reduce flowering?
A: Flowering is promoted by proper pruning. However, renovation pruning will decrease blooms temporarily while the plant recovers.
Conclusion
Pruning honeysuckle is essential to ensure it stays healthy, beautiful, and productive. In the following guide, you’ll be able to know how to maintain a vibrant, fragrant honeysuckle in your garden. From training a climbing honeysuckle or reviving a grown-over honeysuckle, the effort and time that you devote to its pruning will prove worthwhile for a healthy, beautiful honeysuckle.