How to Climb Honeysuckle Vines

The honeysuckle vine boasts flowers in vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow, combined with stark white. These sweetly scented flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies throughout the spring and summer. Honeysuckle can grow in any climate; it is evergreen in climates that stay warm year-round and are deciduous in cooler climates. Because many types of honeysuckle produce long vines, it is important to have a place for them to grow upward so that they do not overtake your yard.

Things You'll Need

• Fence or trellis
• Honeysuckle plant
• Gardening shears
• Shovel
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Purchase a wooden or metal trellis and install it into the ground where the honeysuckle will be planted. A trellis should be installed at least 2 feet into the ground for guaranteed support. You may also wish to place the trellis up along a wall, in which case brackets must be used to secure it. You may also plant the honesuckle near a wire fence. Full sun is the ideal spot to plant honeysuckle, though partial sun will also do.

2. Plant the honeysuckle as close to the trellis or fence as possible, without damaging the plant. If you are planting multiple plants along a fenced area, place them approximately 2 to 3 feet apart.

3. Water the honeysuckle immediately after planting. Completely saturate the soil to ensure that the water will reach the newly planted roots. Continue to keep the honeysuckle watered to keep the soil moist until new growth is obvious.

4. Cover the ground with mulch to help protect the roots from any possible freezing, though honeysuckle should only be planted after the last freeze. But since the weather is often unpredictable in the spring, cover the ground for safety. Covering with mulch will also help to lock in the moisture during the hottest months of the season. Use a shovel or your hands to place the mulch on the ground. Use enough mulch to ensure that the entire area is covered well.

5. Prune and shape the honeysuckle as it grows up the trellis or fence. Honeysuckle is a very vigorous grower, so you will see quick results within the first season. Most pruning of the honeysuckle only needs to happen in the dormant season, before new growth begins. However, you can prune it anytime throughout the season. To prune a honeysuckle vine, use gardening shears and cut to the desired length.

References

• gardenguides.com: How to Care for Your Honeysuckle
• thegardenhelper.com: Planting, Growing and Caring for Honeysuckle Plants
• greenzonelife.com: Honeysuckle

Resources

• mastergardenproducts.com: Trellis