Pruning honeysuckle: when and how to do it correctly, features, diagrams

Summer residents plant honeysuckle in their plots because it is unpretentious and easy to care for. Hobby gardeners plant various varieties of this plant in their gardens and flowerbeds, but the most common are honeysuckle and Tatarian honeysuckle. A good harvest depends on how honeysuckle is pruned in the fall. To achieve this, it's important to observe the timing and take into account the specifics of fall pruning. The bush's berries have a unique flavor and are beneficial. The substances found in the fruits have a positive effect on the heart and blood vessels: they become stronger, and blood pressure is normalized.

Features of honeysuckle care in autumn

Gardeners plant several varieties of this plant. One of them is a low edible shrub. Due to cross-pollination, more than two bushes of different varieties must be grown in a plot. This plant tolerates severe frosts down to -35°C.

Another type of honeysuckle is a climbing shrub called honeysuckle. Within a few years, the plant will twine up a fence about 5 meters high, creating the effect of a living, green, flowering hedge. These bushes don't survive winter cold as well, so they require protection.

Despite the differences, the care required for the shrubs is almost the same.

Features of honeysuckle pruning

Shrubs don't require any special care, but pruning is important to prevent them from becoming overgrown. Ornamental plants are pruned to give them a neat appearance. Edible honeysuckle is pruned in the fall to ensure a good harvest and larger, sweeter berries.

The main purposes of pruning

Pruning shrubs isn't just for the overall aesthetics of the garden. The procedure also benefits the plants themselves. Thanks to it:

• the bushes become healthier because dry and diseased branches are removed;
• crop yields increase;
• new shoots grow faster;
• there is more air inside the plant for ventilation and proper growth of branches;
• the bushes look neater.

Pruning goals depend on the age of the bush. There are several pruning systems:

1. For one-year-old bushes, all stems are pruned to the ground except for a few of the strongest ones. The tops of the shoots are also removed to encourage denser growth.
2. For 6 years, only diseased branches from the lower part of the plant are cut out.
3. Bushes that are about 8 years old are given a rejuvenating pruning. They are thinned out every 4 years.
4. Old plants are completely rejuvenated. Shoots are removed, giving the bush a second life. After this, the honeysuckle is shaped, starting from the first stage.

Pruning is beneficial for plants. It helps them grow thicker and healthier.

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When is it better to prune honeysuckle – in spring or autumn?

Honeysuckle wakes up early after winter, so pruning in the spring can cause significant damage. If you mistime your pruning, you can damage fruiting buds. Therefore, the best time to prune your shrubs is November. Begin pruning when temperatures remain below 0°C and the leaves have fallen.

Guide - How to Prune Honeysuckle

The plant doesn't require annual pruning, unlike other garden shrubs. However, if fall pruning is scheduled this year, the honeysuckle should be inspected beforehand. The depth of the next pruning will be determined based on the quality of the previous pruning. If gardeners do everything correctly, further pruning can be done every 2-3 years. The condition of the shrub depends on this pruning, so it's best to follow the instructions exactly:

1. There's no need to remove the entire branch if only a portion is damaged. Only the dried or damaged portion is cut off.
2. The bush must have constant access to fresh air, so the lower branches that bend heavily toward the ground must be cut off.
3. If the stem has no branches or the shoots are of a strange shape, then this branch is cut off completely.
4. On skeletal stems, branches growing inward are removed. These branches cause the bush to produce smaller berries.

After pruning, 8 to 16 shoots remain from the entire bush.

Good, healthy shrub stems can be easily broken or damaged, so branches must be removed very carefully.

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Peculiarities of pruning old and young shrubs

The pruning process for mature and young plants differs significantly. Specifics for pruning young bushes:

• It is recommended not to prune recently planted honeysuckle bushes: this slows down the growth and development of the plant and prevents the formation of new buds;
• Bushes under 5 years old are pruned gently, removing only dried, damaged, and centrally growing stems. This will allow sunlight and moisture to penetrate the bush, promoting uniform growth.

An old bush can be rejuvenated by removing old branches or cutting the bush back to the ground. All shoots taller than 35-40 cm are also removed. Rejuvenating pruning is performed after the foliage has fallen. New shoots will grow back.

Honeysuckle caprifolium - pruning in autumn

Honeysuckle is an ornamental variety of honeysuckle that twines around a fence, creating a hedge of flowering vines. It looks beautiful, so landscape designers often use it when planting it in gardens. Honeysuckle is pruned to rejuvenate and direct growth.

This honeysuckle grows very quickly. Therefore, honeysuckle is pruned in the fall, removing dried and broken shoots. Branches that protrude beyond the fence and disrupt the intended design are also removed.

Rules for autumn work

Pruning is an important part of gardening. Gardeners must follow certain guidelines to ensure a successful pruning process.

1. Shoots that are damaged or dried out are removed only after all the leaves have fallen.
2. Scheduled pruning is only performed on mature shrubs. Young, recently planted plants are best left alone, as the wounds can become infected.
3. Old dry stems are cut off from mature bushes.
4. On edible bushes, remove branches that produce little fruit. It is also recommended to trim off suckers.
5. Branches that grow from below or are pressed to the ground are cut off, because they only create an obstacle in caring for the plant.
6. You can’t remove all the tops at once, as this is where honeysuckle buds are formed.
7. It's not recommended to prune skeletal branches in winter. Removing them in cold weather can cause the entire plant to freeze.
8. It is necessary to carefully monitor edible varieties so that the base of the bush does not become thinner and the middle does not become dense.

Fertilizing honeysuckle

In mid-July, the shrub begins to form the foundation for the next harvest. Therefore, during this period, the plant needs to be fed with organic and mineral fertilizers. Ash is excellent for this purpose. In dry summers, mix the ash with boiling water and water the shrubs with the resulting solution. In rainy summers, simply sprinkle 1-2 cups of the ash onto the soil beneath the plant.

In late autumn, it's recommended to fertilize the soil with compost or humus. This provides the bush with nutrients for the spring. Ornamental honeysuckle is best fertilized this way once every three years.

Why are rehabilitation measures necessary?

Trimming shrubs is stressful for honeysuckle. Therefore, gardeners remove stems very carefully to avoid damaging the plant. It is not recommended to cut off skeletal branches, as it takes a long time for the shrub to recover.

All cut areas are coated with oil-based paint or garden varnish. For additional care, fertilize the soil with compost or humus. Add mineral fertilizers very carefully. Accidentally overdosing them will cause the leaves to grow faster and thicker, and there will be virtually no flowers. Bushes require fertilizing with potassium- and phosphorus-containing substances approximately every four years. To remember when the last fertilizer was applied, it's a good idea to keep a journal of all plant information.

How to rejuvenate a honeysuckle bush

Rejuvenation pruning is performed after 8 years from planting. The plant is pruned according to a specific pattern:

1. The crown inside the bush is thinned out.
2. Branches that have stopped growing are cut as close to the base as possible.
3. Young central stems are left.

When old branches make up 70% or more of the plant's growth, all shoot tips are pruned. However, there's also a slightly more drastic method, which is only used in extreme cases, such as when the bush is overgrown, diseased, or covered in moss.

1. All old stems are cut to the base.
2. The bush is formed from young growing shoots.

On edible bushes, berries form at the tops. One-year-old branches are not pruned, as this reduces yield.

Digging the ground

Honeysuckle roots are located in the upper soil layers, so don't dig too deeply. The maximum loosening depth is 7 cm. Pests avoid the shrubs, so fallen leaves can be left on the ground. Once they rot, they serve as a separate source of nutrients for the plant.

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Shelter for the winter

Honeysuckle is a frost-hardy plant. Its shoots can withstand fairly low temperatures. Even flowering plants can withstand temperatures as low as -5°C. Edible honeysuckle is not covered; it is pruned, fertilized, and left to overwinter in the open. Ornamental varieties are not frost-hardy enough to survive severe cold. Therefore, they are removed from the fence, laid on the ground, and covered with a breathable material such as spruce branches or sawdust.

Peculiarities of preparing bushes for winter in different regions

Preparing honeysuckle for winter cold varies depending on the variety growing in the garden and the part of the country where it's planted. Even the thickness of the fertilizer layer varies. In northern regions, bushes are covered not only to protect them from severe cold but also to keep birds and mice out.

1. Central climate zone. In the Moscow region, edible varieties can be left uncovered over the winter. However, ornamental varieties such as honeysuckle must be covered with mulch because they are less frost-resistant.
2. Volga region. In this region, shrubs are prepared for winter according to the same rules as in the Moscow region.
3. Ural. Ornamental varieties must be covered with mulch according to standard instructions. However, it's important to monitor the amount of snow covering the bush. If the layer isn't sufficient, add more snow to form a mound on top of the plant.
4. Siberia. In the northern parts of the country, heavy snowfalls can break the bushes. To keep the branches intact, they are tied together. Netting is used to protect the bushes from hungry birds. To prevent mice from damaging the honeysuckle, poisonous bait is placed in several places.

Mistakes in caring for bushes and preparing them for winter

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Gardeners make mistakes when caring for their bushes, and sometimes they don't even realize they're doing it wrong. Here's a list of common mistakes:

1. Pruning a young plant that has been recently planted.
2. Pruning a large number of young shoots from which buds are formed.
3. Carrying out a thorough, deep pruning of a shrub that has not yet reached maturity weakens the plant and causes it to lose fruit.
4. Failure to tie the bush after rejuvenating pruning results in shoots being pressed tightly into the soil or damaged by wind.
5. Trimming off excess length of young shoots, when buds are also removed.

Advice for summer residents

Caring for honeysuckle It can be made easier by using these tips:

1. Pruning is stressful for plants, so the shrub is fed with organic matter. This can be compost or humus. Use one bucket per shrub. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers can also be used, but use them with caution.
2. Honeysuckle cross-pollinates, so it's essential to plant several varieties close together. This will result in a larger harvest.
3. If the summer is hot and sunny, the berries will grow sweet. The best time for the plant to be exposed to sunlight is during the first half of the day. Being exposed to the scorching sun all day won't do any good either: the berries will be very small.
4. If the berries are bitter, there are two possible causes. Either it's the variety, or the weather is sunny and warm, and the bushes aren't getting enough moisture.

In conclusion

Honeysuckle bushes are easy to care for. In the fall, they are pruned and earthed up, and in winter, if necessary, covered with netting to protect against birds and mice. This isn't a problem, but with this care, the harvest increases and remains good for several years. The bush blooms beautifully, and ornamental varieties will enhance any garden plot.