·When to plant honeysuckle – Plant your honeysuckle in early spring after any threat of frost has passed.
·Where to plant honeysuckle – Choose a sunny location where your soil is moist and excess water can drain off.
·How much sun does honeysuckle need – Ideally, full sun is best. Even though honeysuckle can tolerate a partially-shaded area, without enough sun, it may not bloom as much and could lose its leaves.
·What type of soil to use – Be sure you’re planting your honeysuckle in organically rich and very well-drained soil. It should be moist but not soggy, as overly watered soil will become problematic. They will do best in an acid to moderately alkaline soil that ranges from about 5.5 to 8.0 on the pH scale.
·Install supports – If you’re planting your honeysuckle to climb, and you’re not planting it against a house or other structure, you’ll need support structures in place for the plant to grow up. You can install anything that the plant can grab on to – this can be a trellis, pole, fence or other sturdy structure. Be sure to do this before you plant your honeysuckle. Once they are set up, plants should be about 6 – 12 inches out from the support.
·What hardness zone does honeysuckle grow in – Most varieties of honeysuckle grow well in hardiness zones 5 – 9. They can withstand a range of cool-weather conditions, but depending on the variety you plant, some may require additional winter care. The more tender or tropical varieties will be most damaged by harsh winter weather. Carefully pruning, planting close to supports and adding thick layers of mulch around the roots and at the base can help protect your plant.
Training and Pruning Honeysuckle
Training – To train a honeysuckle vine to grow up a pergola, wall or trellis, gently tie the plant to the support with a plastic tie tape or another stretchy material that will allow for growth. You don’t want the material to cut into the plant as it grows. Also take care that the stems don’t rub on the supports – you can do this by looping your ties into a figure 8, making sure the crossed section goes between the stem and the support.
Pruning – You won’t need to spend too much time pruning your plant, other than to keep the shape tidy and contained.
How and when you prune depends on whether you have a vine or bush. Vines can be lightly pruned for shaping virtually any time of the year. If you’re doing a major pruning job on an older vine or one that’s unruly, wait until at least fall, or winter if you have a variety that goes dormant. Bushes can be pruned as soon as flowers drop in the spring.
Use bypass pruners to remove any dead, diseased or damaged stems. Cut stems to the point where they join another stem or just past a leaf node.
If you have planted an evergreen variety, note these will not go dormant. Prune them after the end of the flowering season so you don’t remove new buds.
Honeysuckle Care
Tip 1. Honeysuckle plants should be well (but not over) watered and mulched.
Tip 2. Take care not to let your soil get soggy – water only as needed to keep soil moist and damp.
Tip 3. Add layers of compost each spring.
Tip 4. Pruning depends on the type of honeysuckle you plant. Be sure you know which variety you have. – for example, common honeysuckle blooms on side shoots from the previous season, so if you prune it in the spring, you would eliminate your flowers.
Tip 5. Encourage and promote growth with a low-nitrogen fertilizer, a slow-release shrub and tree fertilizer or an organic plant food applied in the spring. You can also add a 2 – 3-inch layer of composted manure. However, if you plant honeysuckle in fertile soil, you may not need to fertilize.
Common Questions About Growing Honeysuckle
How do I keep honeysuckle blooming?
Keep your honeysuckle blooming by making sure the plant is in a spot that gets full sun. Honeysuckle will still grow, but will not bloom as much, in shady spots. Full sun means 6 or more hours of sunlight each day.
Why isn’t my honeysuckle blooming very much?
If your plant is young, it may just not have reached its full bloom potential yet – note that honeysuckle may take up to 3 years before it puts on a great show.
Does honeysuckle come back every year?
Honeysuckle is a perennial plant, meaning it will come back each year. With proper care, you should be able to enjoy your honeysuckle for many years. Some varieties can live an average of 20 years.
How long does it take to grow honeysuckle?
Honeysuckle is a fast-growing plant that will likely bloom during its first growing season. However, it could take up to 3 years for optimal blooming.