Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Is it too late to prune Honeysuckle?

ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
in Plants

Hi everyone,

Some of my Honeysuckle are growing up a trellis on an east facing fence, and the new growth is climbing above the top of the fence.

I didn't prune them last year as I wanted them to grow and fill the fence, but looking at all the new growth maybe I should have.

So, is it too late in the year to give them a prune and if not how far back do I cut it?

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,088

    It depends on whether it's an early or summer flowering honeysuckle.  If the former, it will flower on wood produced last year so pruning now will lose you a season of flowers.  Summer flowerers do it on new wood so can be pruned back in spring.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236

    Thanks Obelixx...I can't remember the exact species of Honeysuckles they are, so I think I'll just have to prune off the new growth above the fence line and see how they go.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,088

    That will simply make new growth above the fence.  Prune the lot back so it regrows to cover your fence and flower where you can see them.  You'll just have to risk losing this year's flowers.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236

    Ok...how far from the base do I prune?

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,088

    I'd go back to 2 or 3 ' above ground and then give it a liquid feed of rose or tomato food to encourage new flwoering growth.  It helps, if you can, to tie in the new stems so they grow horizontally and diagonally (more flowers) rather than letting it shoot up vertically.  

    Here is some advice from the RHS - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=439

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236

    Thanks for taking the time to help out, Obelixx...Honeysuckle pruning will commence t'moro image

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,088

    Mt pleasure.  Good luck.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
Sign In or Register to comment.