GARDEN IDEAS
Growing Honeysuckle
Growing honeysuckle in your garden really is easy.
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Honeysuckle tends to be tolerant of most conditions but will not be happy if left to dry out. Mulch and water during hot summers to keep roots damp. It likes full sun but will tolerate some shade - and will benefit from a little shade on the base of the plant when the sun is very hot.
Growing honeysuckle:
Great for training over a trellis or archway. Have the trellis or archway in position before you plant your honeysuckle plants. Choose your variety or varieties with care. If your archway is over a seating area, you may not want to attract hundreds of bees and you should not choose a variety specifically suited to attracting bees and butterflies.
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Position next to pathways or use to cover a bare wall or fence.
Varieties:
Some varieties are evergreen which can be very useful for creating small hedgerows or covering a bare wall or fence in the garden. Sweet scents will attract humming birds and butterflies and the fruit will attract birds. NB: Honeysuckle berries are highly poisonous and should never be eaten.
Planting:
If you plan on growing honeysuckle over an arbor or new fence, make sure the structure is up first before you plant the young honeysuckle plants.
Plant about 2 feet (60cms) apart and around 6-12 inches (15-30cms) away from the fence. Water well and keep watering regularly until there is new growth, then check every now and again.
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Never let the soil totally dry out. It's a good idea to lay a mulch round the plant to prevent the roots from being attacked by frost in early spring, as well as helping to protect plants from drying out on hot summer days.
Growing honeysuckle options:
Evergreen or not? - Are you looking for a round-the-year cover up or a blast of scent and colour in the summer months?
Pruning - Do you really want the bother? Or do you enjoy the excuse to get out in your garden in early winter with a sturdy pair of secateurs? :-)
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Colour - Can you colour co-ordinate your garden? Or do you like the random look? There are many beautiful shades of flowers available. If you are looking at your honeysuckle from your kitchen window every day, you want it to be a colour you like!
Cost - The trouble with trying to cut costs on gardening products is that you spend more money on fuel driving from garden centre to garden centre, nearly always have a row with the spouse and never save money anyway!
However, I love local garden centres and if you have a favourite close by, get to know them. See what they have to offer.
'Gold Flame' - Another gorgeous variety at Thompson & Morgan online - no fuel bills!!
Another way to start your plants and cut down on the cost would be to ask gardening friends for cuttings from their honeysuckle plants. You can do this during the summer months. Simply cut a non-flowering shoot. Trim all but a couple of nodules and leaves, before planting in prepared soil. Look after until big and strong!
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After Care:
Generally growing honeysuckle is an easy garden task. It tends to look after itself. Don't let the roots dry out though. Honeysuckle will be attacked by aphids the moment the root system starts to dry out. Keep mulched with lots of leafy matter.
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Many varieties of honeysuckle don't need pruning, and should be carefully tied onto supports as the vines grow longer. Use an elastic tie for this so the vine doesn't get damaged. There are some varieties that do need winter pruning. Check your variety when you buy. Prune if necessary.
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Watch for 'layering'. Sometimes honeysuckle will send trailers and new roots will grow as much as a metre away from the main plant. Rather like strawberries, but bigger! This is fine if you are growing honeysuckle for ground cover, but these new plants can be dug up carefully and re-positioned if necessary.
Growing honeysuckle truly is a pleasure.
The strong scent is highest during hot summer days and balmy nights.
The flowers attract an alarming number of flying creatures!
It looks after itself very nicely...Enjoy growing honeysuckle.. become an expert!