How to Kill Honeysuckle

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Loppers

  • Trash bags

  • Herbicide with 20 percent glyphosate

Bush honeysuckle will choke out nearby plants and trees.

Honeysuckle is a rapidly-growing woody vine that produces an abundance of fragrant flowers in the spring and summer. It is drought-resistant, disease-tolerant and will thrive in even poor soil conditions. The bush honeysuckle, which originated in Asia, is even considered an invasive weed by some U.S. states. Killing honeysuckle vines that are undesirable or that have grown out of control requires mechanical and chemical removal methods.

Advertisement

Step 1

Search for a cluster of honeysuckle vines growing together and trace them back to the ground to locate the base of the plants.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Cut the vines off 2 to 3 inches above the ground, using a pair of loppers.

Step 3

Pull the top part of the honeysuckle vines down and place it into a trash bag for disposal. This can take some work since the vines twist around other plants, but the vines may contain seeds that will disperse if you leave them. If the vines do not contain red berries, you can leave them in place.

Advertisement

Step 4

Apply a broadleaf herbicide containing at least 20 percent glyphosate to the entire outside of the remaining stump of each honeysuckle vine. You can either spray it on, or paint it on. You do not have to apply herbicide to the top of the stump, but you can if desired.

Step 5

Pull new honeysuckle vines that emerge from the ground the next spring out of the ground with your hands before they have a chance to get established.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...