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Honeysuckle

Sophie17Sophie17 Posts: 342
in Problem solving
I have a well established 5 yr old honeysuckle that I never do much with. Sometimes it flowers well and is very successful other years it has rare flowers and is just leafy. I prune it to keep it about 7ft tall (climbs up trellis) but that's about as much as I've ever done. It was a gift and my knowledge is minimal on honeysuckle but I love the smell of the flowers. Any advice will be gratefully received.

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  • Sophie17Sophie17 Posts: 342
    Hi verdun, to be honest it got shoved in a corner near a bit of trellis and forgot about really! I prune when it grows over the top of my fence. I've had much more time the last few years, last year was spent doing groundwork but now it's time to show the plants some love. I have no idea what variety it is I'm afraid. I watered regularly last summer but will pay much more attention this year. I'll grab some fish blood and bone when I go to the shops and give it a good mulch. my knowledge of honeysuckle stops at knowing I like the smell. Thanks so much for sharing your experience
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511

    Honeysuckle likes it's roots to be cool and damp.  Could it be that in some years it dries out too much or gets too hot?

    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • Sophie17Sophie17 Posts: 342
    That could indeed be why....its in a light shade corner so doubt it gets too hot but it is possible it dries out. I watered well last year and it grew very well but only a few flowers
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    I had a honeysuckle many years ago (when I knew very little about them) and I neglected to keep it damp Sophie. Despite the high rainfall here, it got very little because of it's position in the garden. It never looked good. It's a really important factor as Verdun has  said image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ian cameron dromoreian cameron dromore Posts: 29
    I have honeysuckle which I got from a wild bush whilst out walking and it grows very big with lots of flowers. The only thing I do is prune and feed with home made liquid feed (nettle tea).
  • linda604linda604 Posts: 1

    when is the right time to prune a honeysuckle and cuttings from the one i have its five years old and at the moment its growing very well and lots of flowers but i dont know when to cut it back as its got a bit wild this year

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,142

    I cut them back after they've flowered as this gives them a chance to grow some new shorter sideshoots which will flower next year.  The only problem with doing that is that means the berries aren't there for the birds.


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • wakeshinewakeshine Posts: 975

    Can you plant honeysuckles in the shade? I planted a very cheap small one (variety Belgica) at the base of a conifer tree  by a fence a few weeks ago. It's very dark where the plant is but if it grows it will get light. The ground was very dry and there also conifers on the other side of the fence so I guess the ground lacks nutrients. I did put some organic soil into the hole when planting. It hasn't died but I'm not sure if it's growing but now I am wondering if I should have planted it in sun or grown it in a pot...

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