Its location should be chosen carefully. Otherwise the honeysuckle will go bald, grow more slowly, dry out, become more susceptible to disease or otherwise lead a miserable existence. But it's not just the choice of location that matters. The care should also be properly coordinated!
How do I properly care for my honeysuckle?
Honeysuckle care includes occasional watering with lime-free water, especially in hot and dry conditions, monthly fertilization in the container during the growing season and regular pruning to remove bare and diseased shoots. Honeysuckles outdoors are hardy and require little further care.
Does honeysuckle need to be watered?
A honeysuckle outdoors does not necessarily need to be watered regularly. If it is in a semi-shady place and its base is cool, the gardener does not need to water it. The exceptions are hot and dry periods in summer. Then it is best to provide the honeysuckle with water every day.
Limescale-free water such as rainwater is used for watering. Also, don't forget to water the honeysuckle sparingly, even in winter on frost-free days. This is especially true if the plant is in a pot. Any time the soil is too dry, the susceptibility to pests such as lice increases significantly.
Does honeysuckle need fertilizer?
Usually, fertilizing an outdoor honeysuckle is not compulsory if it has been planted in nutrient-rich soil. On the other hand, a honeysuckle in a pot should be supplied with a suitable liquid fertilizer (€9.00 on Amazon) once a month during its main growing season between March and September.
If you want to fertilize your honeysuckle outdoors, use an organic complete fertilizer or compost. You can mix the compost into the soil in both spring and fall. But be careful: honeysuckles have shallow roots!
When and how do these plants undergo pruning?
- wear gloves when cutting (honeysuckle is poisonous)
- Radical pruning: if necessary, carry out as you get older
- Thinning: remove dead, too dense and diseased shoots
- Let middle shoots remain
- cut back bare areas
- if applicable sort out cuttings from the clippings for propagation
- Time: late autumn to early spring
Which diseases and pests can be dangerous?
As soon as you see diseased shoots, cut them off! Honeysuckle is sometimes affected by powdery mildew. Aphids are the most common pests in dry conditions.
Tips & Tricks
You don't have to worry about your honeysuckle in winter. It is considered to be very hardy and enjoys a protective layer of soil, compost, leaves or brushwood in harsh locations.